Our precious loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, January 9, 2008.
Jackie, as she was known to her friends, passed away in Hospice Care in Conroe, Texas at the age of eighty-five. Born in Shelby County, she spent much of her youth lovingly caring for her ill parents. She became the beloved wife of Hollis Thacker of San Augustine and enjoyed twenty-eight years of marriage until his death in 1968 at the age of fifty-six. Shortly after marrying, they moved to Port Neches where she spent the next fifty-two years. She raised three loving children of her own and provided nurturing care to many others. She was very active in her church life as one of the Charter Members of Southside Baptist Church of Port Neches, and led the Primary Sunday School Department for many years. Jackie was employed by the Port Neches Independent School District from 1957 until 1980. Many friends and pastor’s have fond memories of the wonderful meals they shared in her home, where love, kindness and hospitality abounded. She truly enjoyed cooking and sewing; and was always available to go fishing which she made a family outing. Her other family passion was highly spirited games of “forty-two” and dominoes. Maree and Preston McBride were part of many shared joys, sorrows and fun holiday remembrances between their two families. She loved to travel and especially enjoyed her trips to Hawaii, the Bahamas, Disneyland in Florida, Colorado and Branson, Missouri. Jackie loved the Lord and when anyone was with her they experienced her sweet peace and loving acceptance. She only had kind words to say and was an example of strength and determination to all who knew her. Her last twelve years were spent in The Woodlands in order to be close to family and there, she was a member of Sawdust Road Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Hollis Thacker, son Rovin, sister, Florence and brothers, Ralph and Ruby. Our cherished mother will be missed by daughters, Nancy Loring and husband Jeff, Marvel Mann and husband Scott; and stepson, Tommy Thacker. Her spirit and memories will always endure through her loving grandchildren, Will Taylor and wife Josie, Kari Malloy and husband Keith, Joni Rowley and husband Cliff, Paul Burt Thacker, Jase Mann and wife Julia, Dinn Mann and wife Betsy, and Mark Mann. Great grandchildren include Corey, Spencer, Kamye and Adam Rowley, Burke Malloy, William Heath Taylor, Irene, Caroline, Holly, Annabeth and Roy Mann. Jackie’s cherished relatives and friends will miss her dearly. Her life lessons of Christian ethics and a loving spirit will live on through those who were blessed by her life.
A gathering of family and friends will be held at Broussard’s Mortuary at 505 12th Street in Nederland, Texas on Friday, January 11, 2008 between the hours of 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Jackie’s celebration of life will take place at Oak Bluff Memorial Park Cemetery at 101 Block Street in Port Neches, Texas on Saturday, January 12, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. with Pastor Tim Byrd of Sawdust Road Baptist Church officiating.
Honorary pallbearers are Paul Burt, Dwight and David Thacker, Will Taylor, Keith Malloy, Jeff Loring, Scott, Jase, Dinn and Mark Mann.
