Sarah Elizabeth Jackson

Dec. 4, 1908 to Aug. 14, 2010 Sarah Elizabeth Jackson, 101, of Overland Park, Kansas, died peacefully at home on Saturday, August 14, 2010. Mom was born December 4, 1908 to Mary Ellen and Vincent Soisson in Connellsville, PA, where her father was engaged in the manufacturing of brick. She came from a family of eight children where education was a priority. All eight children attended college and seven graduated; Mom from Seton Hill, 2 from Notre Dame, 2 from Gaucher College, 1 from The Naval Academy, and 1 from Penn State. Mom was a clinical dietitian by training and it was in this role that she met our father, Robert Jackson, MD, in Ann Arbor, MI where he was completing his medical training. They married and moved to Iowa City, IA where they raised their family of seven children until moving to Columbia, MO, in 1954, when Dad was named the first Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics of the new four year University of Missouri Medical School. They remained in Columbia until 1980, when they moved to Kansas City. Mom enjoyed a long and healthy life. She was the quintessential mother and wife. During the 1940's, 1950's and 1960's all of her daily energy was devoted to her large family. She was a fabulous cook who is best remembered for her delicious pies and her passion for ice cream, any flavor and any time. Mom enjoyed entertaining and especially loved having her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren around. Above all else, Mom was a lady, in the truest sense of the word. Mom was a woman of unquestioning faith who had a quiet, caring disposition and led mainly by example. She never raised her voice, even while raising seven children. She was loved and admired by all who had the privilege of meeting her. She was intellectually bright and enjoyed stimulating conversations, music, playing the piano, book club, bridge, and traveling throughout the world. Mom was preceded in death by Robert, her husband of 69 years; her daughter, Mary Jo Buckley, of Sedalia, MO; her grandson, John T. Jackson, of Kansas City, MO; her parents; and 3 brothers and 3 sisters. She is survived by her other 6 children: Ann Allen of Denver, CO, Sarah Hoenninger of Crestone, CO, Kathy Green (Don) of Dallas, TX, Margy Gresham (Jim) of Danville, CA, Martha Ladenson (Paul) of Baltimore, MD, Dr. Robert Jackson (Linda) of Kansas City, MO, seventeen grandchildren, twenty three great-grandchildren, son-in-law Jim Buckley of Sedalia, MO, and brother Tom Soisson of Denver, CO. With profound gratitude, the family would like to publicly recognize Mom's caregivers of the past three years; Dorrise Cook, Lupe Thomas, and Mille Macias for their dedication and loving care for Mom. A private family celebration mass will be help at Visitation Church on Thursday at 10 a.m. The family suggests memorial contributions to Gift of Life, 6405 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, KS 66202, or the John T. Jackson Foundation, 315 Bleecker St., Number 367, New York, NY 10014.