I can't believe it's been over a month since you've been gone... I miss our phone calls during random times of the day, talking about anything and everything just to talk... I have been sick this past week with a respiratory infection and bronchitis and wish I could go back to the days when I was a kid when you would feed me my favorite spaghetti O's when I was sick and we'd watch Shirley Temple to make me feel better... ❤️

I am so sorry about the loss of your mom. She was a very special lady and was very proud of her family. Praying for each of you. 
Debbie Singleton

C.W. Vowell (foster brother), Bob Dixon, Tom Dixon, Carolyn Clary, Ruth Ann Jackson, Ida Mae.

My sister, Katie Phillips and I remember Ruth Ann as our “sitter”, when we were next door neighbors in Oklahoma City.  We enjoyed having her come over and thought she was so  pretty, and  fun, especially for a teenager, who paid attention to us!

Our condolences to Ruth Ann’s family.
Judith Garland Lowrey
(Granbury, Tx)

Ruth's greeting to visitors when she was in assisted living.  She was always happy to see her friends and family.

All of the Dixon children at home in Oklahoma City:   Carolyn, Bobby, Ruth Ann, and Tommy,

Ruth Ann (on the right) as one of the bridesmaids at her brother's wedding.

Portrait of Ruth's family of origin before brother Bob was born.  Father - Robert; brother - Tommy, Ruth Ann; sister - Carolyn; mother - Ida Mae

Rylle brought her grandmother a little device for getting a scalp massage.  Ruth thought that felt soooooooooo good.

Another visitor that brought joy to Ruth in her last few weeks was her cat Fred.  Fred could always be found curled up in Ruth's lap when she took a nap and cuddled next to her when we went to bed.

Granddaughter Rylle came from Mobile, Alabama, to see Ruth.  Originally the trip had been planned for Ruth, Pamela and Rylle to go shopping for a bridal dress for Rylle's upcoming December wedding.  A virtual shopping trip was accomplished instead with Rylle sending Ruth phone messages and pictures.  When the shopping was completed a final visit took place.

One of Ruth's better days while in assisted living was when she received a visit from both of her two daughters and one granddaughter.  They were able to spend several hours with her and I don't think Ruth stopped smiling.

Ruth had gone into the hospital the first of December for a heart catheter procedure to hopefully determine if she was a candidate for a heart valve replacement. That was the beginning of a 6 month downhill slide.  By the first part of April it was obvious that she could no longer be cared for properly by family at home so she was placed in assisted living where 24/7 care could be provided.  A recliner was purchased for visitors to use when visiting but Ruth was the great beneficiary of it.  She was very happy when taken out of bed and could sit in the recliner with her favorite warm blanket.

Ruth entered in marriage with Marvin with four grown children with families of their own.  All view the union as one family, for which I am eternally blessed and greatful.

Having fun and clowning around was standard fare aboard the Love Boat.

Visiting the Caribbean islands, shopping, and sightseeing were nice while on the cruise, but Ruth said the three full days aboard ship between ports was the most relaxing time she had ever had.  She would go to the jacuzzi two or three times a day remarking she never felt better after getting out.

The night of the Captain's Gala Dinner was indeed special.  The menu was so hard to make a selection from, everything was fixed to perfection,  Following the entree the assistant waiters performed "The Parade of the Baked Alaska".  Later at the midnight buffet there was a three story tall champaign waterfall.  All in all it was a WOW romantic evening.

The maitre d' seating Ruth at formal dinners was a treat for Ruth.  She loved it but complained about putting on a few pounds.

Ruth always claimed that her primary function on any of our outings was to shop.  She outdid herself on the Caribbean cruise in both St Thomas and St Martin.

Just walking through the streets of St Martin was a relaxing experience.

While Ruth was holding on to the side of the boat the stingrays appeared.  She immediately extricated her self from the water, grabbed the camera, and took pictures of the rest of us playing with the fishes.  All the while she was taking pictures she was yelling at me to watch out for the tail.

On of the few times Ruth got out of the boat and into the water.  She never did put her head under water or let go of the ladder on the side of the boat.  At least she got wet.

Our first vacation as husband and wife was to the Cayman Islands.  Ruth was completely awed by the flowers, trees, and bushes there.  Our lodging was right on the beach and she went walking every day among the flowering trees and bushes on the shore line.

Ruth had to check out all of the flower fragrances on the Caribbean cruise island stops. 

She had to make a little purchase at the gift shop at Mountain Top, St Thomas

While in St Thomas and on Mountain Top Ruth had to try one of their famous banana daiquiri drinks.  Since she did not usually take alcohol it was really surprising.  What was an even bigger surprise was she really liked it. 

On  our Caribbean cruise one of the island stops was St Thomas.  We took a bus to Mountain Top to get a full view of the island.

On a Thanksgiving holiday trip to Atlanta to see Ruth's daughter Pam and her family, we spent one night in Vicksburg MS.  The next morning we took grandsons Tyler and Parker to the civil war monument.  Ruth was really against that at first, saying it was not an appropriate outing for young boys.  We hired a guide that brought the tour down to their level.  Both boys had a ball.  Their teachers at school asked what we had done, because both of them would enthusiastically enter in lessons on the civil war.

The joy and happiness I experienced over the short time I had the pleasure of knowing Ruth is priceless. She had such an enormous heart and love for everyone. She was also one of the first neighbors I met when I moved to the neighborhood and took great care to make sure my family and I felt welcomed and appreciated. 

Some of my favorite memories of Ruth involved the various stories she shared about her life growing up, going off to college, and then eventually marrying Marvin. Oh, how she loved her family, her dogs, and that beautiful Magnolia tree in the front yard! Ruth would come knocking on my door to invite me to take some of the wonderful-smelling flowers every time it blossomed. It’s such a beautiful tree, just like Ruth. What a blessing it was to know her. My life is fuller and richer because of her. She will be missed.

May the Lord keep you and strengthen you, Marvin and family, during these hard days ahead. You remain in our thoughts and prayers, Karen Markle and family. 


The first spring following our marriage we planted two trees in the front yard.  One was a fast growing maple that was lost several years later.  The second was a slow growing southern magnolia placed to be able to provide shade after the maple was gone.  Ruth loved that magnolia.  Every year when in bloom she would have me get out the ladder and cut blossoms.  She loved their smell and would place them all around the house.  It is fitting that the tree has started blooming at this time.  She would be out there now cutting blossoms.

Ruth's daughter Pam lived near Kansas City when we were going together and just after we were married.  We would often go north to see Pam and her family in Kansas, my brother in Independence MO and my parents in Maryville MO during the same trip.  The trip provided a lot of time for Ruth and I to talk, for me to get to know her family, her to get to know my family, and for her to see and learn about where I was from.

The people we met on dive trips was always a fun time for Ruth.  There was always another couple or two along where one of the partners did not dive and Ruth would shop, have lunch, or explore the beach with them.  

One of the things that Ruth really liked was the relax time after we got back to shore after a dive.  In the Turk-Caicos Islands we would go over to Calico Jack's and see who could tell the biggest lie.  There was always a lot of fun type kidding and laughter,

Ruth did very much enjoy meeting and talking with other divers on our trips.  After she started going out on the boat more she liked to help some of the others get prepared.

Ruth went absolutely ballistic when she saw this picture I had taken on one of my dives at Turk-Caicos.  I almost was forced to quit diving after she saw this.  The next dive out she insisted on going (very unusual) but made the boat pilot tell her what we were doing during the whole time under water.  He gave her a window box she could put in the water and watch what was being done.  His reassurance did put her somewhat at ease.

When I went on scuba diving trips Ruth said that her function was to do the shopping and get shells off the beaches.  She was very afraid of the water.  When I did get her into the ocean she would not let hold of the edge of the boat.

The last overseas trip we were able to take was to the Turk-Caicos Islands in the Caribbean.  Ruth did not dive but she tolerated my like for it.  She at first thought it was too dangerous but slowly changed her mind on that point.

With grandkids living in south Alabama we made several trips there.  One of our favorite stop-overs was New Orleans because that is where we spent our honeymoon.  One place we had to go to every day in the Big Easy was Cafe Du Monde in the French Quarter for coffee and beignets.  We had many good times and met several very interesting and nice people there.

One of the special trips we took was to Mobile AL for granddaughter Rylle's college graduation from South Alabama University.  here Ruth is with Rylle and two other granddaughters Kendal and Rainey.  it was special because Rylle was the first grandchild to graduate from college.

On the Washington DC PAC trip we had this picture taken just for fun.  Don't get all excited.  That is not President Bush, rather it is a cardboard cut out.  We had a lot of fun with other people and this picture.

On trip I won through the TXU PAC, one of the activities was meeting in informal lunch or dinner discussion settings with individual Texas congressmen.  Ruth was able to attend one with Pete Sessions, then a   representative from a Dallas district.  He welcomed the group to Washington, "the nation's only work free drug zone."  Ruth was able to attend just about all of the functions but was disappointed that she had not been cleared to visit the White House.  She never let me forget that one.

I won a drawing a the office put on by the TXU Political Action Committee that enabled us to go to Washington DC for 6 days and 5 nights.  The interesting thing about this trip was that it took place three weeks to the day following my second knee replacement.  The doctor said we couldn't go but he was proved wrong.  This is the winners getting on the plane for the trip from DFW

In one of Ruth's last outings before being hospitalized, Pam, Paula, grandson Tyler, and us met at Texas Roadhouse.

One of Marvin's former supervisors was an Australian native.  Sue (Jackman) Jackson returned to Australia just before Marv's retirement.  She returned for a visit and we met her and some of the other office gang at a Dallas watering hole

In one of our visits to my hometown we stopped in Independence MO to have lunch with my brother Gerald and his wife Jeannie.  This is the last picture I have of Gerald before his death.

On one of our trips to my home we stopped in Springfield to visit my two dearest friends, Jerry and Bernie Miller, from Army days in Vietnam.  

While attending Rylle's college graduation Ruth and grandchildren Cameron and Kendal took time to tour some of the Mobile area sights.

Ruth's mother Ida Mae, daughter Paula, and granddaughters Rylle and Rainey in one of the last pictures taken together.

While visiting granddaughters in college at Mobile, AL, the kids were trying to show Ruth how to shoot a rifle.

Ruth liked to take a little afternoon nap after she retired.  Clifford, Annie, and Billis were always eager to join in,

After a formal dinner on ship that was absolutely fabulous followed by a baked Alaska desert this portrait was taken by the ship's photographer.  The ship was the Regal Princess, a.k.a. The Love Boat.

We got caught up in a street parade on Burbon Street.  Someone handed us this sign and asked us to join in.  We had a lot of fun on this outing.

Ruth did not drink but had to try just once.  One or two sips was all that she ever consumed.

I always loved seeing Ruth when she came to have her hair done! So very sorry for your loss!

Love Teresa Perkins Martin

Ken and I are so sorry for your loss. Ruth was very close to all our family.  Our prayers and any help we can be are available. Love all of you. Thanks  Marvin for the care you have given her.  It has hard but God has helped you.

OBITUARY

Ruth Ann Bryant Jackson

July 12, 1940 – May 30, 2022

Moore Bowen Road Funeral Home

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