Mrs. G.F. "Jackie" Lonsford

Mrs. G.F. “Jackie” Lonsford, a true family matriarch, died on Saturday, the 7th of January 2017, of heart failure. She was 92. She said many times that her family was her life, and she lived that life long and fully.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Estes Meeks Frost and Gertrude Martel Frost, her first husband, Jack Major, her brother Charles “Buddy" Frost, her second husband Check Lonsford and her daughter Anita Finkel.

Jackie was born on the 20th of February 1924, in Franklin, Louisiana. Her first four years were spent in Cuba, where her father was a sugar chemist. Jackie later grew up in Franklin, and married Jack Major there in 1943. They lived at various times in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Valdosta, Georgia, and Port Arthur, Texas, before moving - with three young children in tow during a hurricane - to Houston in 1949. Her fourth child was born here in 1950.

Jackie worked for the Prudential Insurance Co. for 30 years, retiring in 1980. She remained a member of the Prudential Retirees Club until her death.

She married Check Lonsford in 1964, and after he retired from McKesson & Robbins, they loved to travel - to Europe, the Far East and Hawaii. And “we danced our whole lives, sometimes even in the kitchen!”

Jackie, known as “Mimi” to many friends and family, always seemed to be on the go: cruises, gambling trips to Louisiana. She taught all her kids and grandkids how to shuffle cards and play Rummy. In fact, she loved playing all kinds of games with the kids: Chicken Foot, cards, Parcheesi, puzzles and especially sitting around the dining-room table playing “Bonanza” with family until the wee hours. And she also loved yearly family expeditions to the beach. An excellent cook, she was famous for her pepper jelly, pot roast, turkey gumbo and potato salad. Her home was the real heart of the family.

Jackie also was a member of the Women’s Association of the Allied Beverages Industries (the WAABIs), at one time serving as president.

Jackie is survived by sons Estes, Bobby and Jack Major, and stepson Michael Lonsford, 11 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren, her sister Evelyn Meadows, and cousins Mary Fay Sandoz and Margie LaFosse, as well as many nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to express their deepest thanks and appreciation to all the doctors, nurses and aides at Texas Orthopedic Hospital and especially Methodist Hospital for the personalized care, comfort and attention they gave to our matriarch these past few weeks. And to Dr. Brad Edwards and his wife Elizabeth for being such good neighbors, friends and supporters.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock this afternoon until seven o’clock this evening, Tuesday, the 10th of January, in the drawing room of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

A funeral service is to be conducted at two o’clock in the afternoon on Wednesday, the 11th of January, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons.

At a later date the family is to gather for a private interment at Houston National Cemetery.

In lieu of customary remembrances, Jackie asked that donations in honor of her daughter Anita be directed to Cure PSP: 30 E. Padonia Road, Suite 201 Timonium, MD, 21093. Please call 800-457-4777 with inquiries.