Lessie Lucile Jackson Spindle was a true Texan in every sense of the word. She loved her state and all the diversity that came with it. She grew up in the oilfields, spending countless hot and humid summer days playing in the sludge pits near the production rigs. When her family moved to the Rio Grande Valley, Lessie fell in love with the lush, vibrant vegetation and connection to our agricultural food sources. She moved to Waco with her family, graduating from Waco High School and meeting the man who would follow her to El Paso because she had so captivated him that he could not imagine a life without her. Lessie and Bob were married, soon growing their family with the addition of a son, and made their final move to Fort Worth where their family grew once more with the addition of a daughter.
Lessie was a lifelong learner and Horned Frog, earning a B.S. in Sociology, with a minor in Geography from Texas Christian University and continuing in pursuit of a Master’s degree. This curiosity of everything led her to teach in the Fort Worth Independent School District, sharing her passion of learning with a generation of at-risk students.
An avid traveler, Lessie roamed the US, putting her feet in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and most every point on the Gulf Coast. She traveled to Mexico and Japan, immersing herself in the cultures and imprinting memories that would last a lifetime.
Her commitment to community and Texas history led her to serve as a docent at the Log Cabin Village, where she taught others how early Texans used looms to weave fabrics for their clothes. She spent years working with a group of spinners, weavers, and quilters in the Stockyards on the north side of Fort Worth, producing exquisite and unique garments and blankets in the Texas style. Lessie also worked as a docent for the Japanese Gardens in Fort Worth, where she was able to share her firsthand knowledge of all things Japanese.
Lessie loved her family, friends, her gardens, and her precious dog Einstein. She made a difference in the lives of all she encountered. Her legacy will live on in all of those she touched.
Lessie Lucile Jackson Spindle
Preceded in Death by: Parents, Lovell Jackson, Jimmie Jackson Griffin and husband Walter Griffin, Husband, Robert W. Spindle, Son, Robert W. Spindle Jr., Siblings, Jane Ann Jackson, May Carnahan, Ruth Ramey
Survived By: Sisters, Dorothy Ward, Carroll Coffman, Quentella Garza; Brother, James Jackson; Daughter, Victoria Bird and husband Jeff Bird, Daughter in law, Kathryn Joanne Spindle, Daughter in law, Lori King-Nelson; Grandchildren, Robert W. Spindle V., Angela Spindle Villarreal and husband Armando Villarreal, Don Christensen and wife Beth Christensen, Joa Christensen, Khara Crawford and husband Rich Crawford, Michael Watkins and wife Rebeca Ramirez, Nicey Watkins and fiancé Cody Allen, Holly Watkins and fiancé Ricky McCarty, Robert Watkins and wife Patricia; Greatgrandchildren: Chase Hardee and fiancé Gabe Laxson, Catarina Isabella Villarreal, Armando Enrique Villarreal, Julia Christensen, Aubrey Christensen, Abigail Christensen, Riley Christensen, Braylee Marie Celeste Watkins, Cambri Harper Watkins, Jordan Allen, LilyRose Quentella Allen, Whitney Rhae McCarty, Riley Reese McCarty, Robert William Watkins
And an infinite number of beloved extended family and friends.
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