MARY JACKSON
Mary Jackson, age 92, longtime Anacortes resident, passed away on Monday, November 14, 2016.
Mrs. Jackson was born on April 7, 1924, in Portland, Oregon, the daughter of the Right Reverend Walter Taylor Sumner and Myrtle Mitchell. She attended the Episcopal St. Helen’s Hall School from first grade through high school. Upon Mary’s graduation in June 1941 she attended Stanford University from 1941-1945, graduating in the School of Social Sciences with a Major in Journalism.
Mary spent two years in Portland in fashion advertising. In 1947 she moved to San Francisco, where she was employed as a secretary for two years in a financial security firm. She accepted a job as secretary to the general manager at KPIX, the first television station in San Francisco.
In 1955, Mary married Robert Anson Jackson, original from Bakersfield, CA. She spent several years in private secretarial positions such as church secretary. She then enrolled in Dominican College in San Rafael, CA, to acquire elementary teaching credentials. After several years of teaching, she attended a cross-generational class at the Presidio, receiving an additional certification. She also volunteered during this time in several volunteer positions such as guide in the Japanese Tea Garden.
Mary moved to St. Helena in the Napa Valley, and was chosen to work for the North Bay Senior Council, where she started a new information referral program, hiring, training and supervising seniors. Then she was hired to supervise all of the senior programs in Napa County for two or three years.
Meanwhile, her husband Bob had purchased a nursery in Napa County, for which Mary was bookkeeper. When her job ended with North Bay Senior Council, Bob and Mary had opportunity to travel, mostly in Europe. Bob started a profitable computer programming company.
In 1989 the couple moved to Anacortes. Mary was involved in volunteer work, the Chamber of Commerce Information, library, weekly teacher’s aide at Mt. Erie Elementary School, and was a member of a book club, which included lunch reviews of specific books.
The couple later moved to Chandler Square due to Bob’s declining health and Mary served on the Resident Council there for several years. He preceded her in death in September 2012.
A Memorial Service is scheduled for Wednesday, November 23, 2016, 11:00 AM at Christ Episcopal Church, 1216 – 7th Avenue, Anacortes. Family and friends are encouraged to share memories and condolences at www.whidbeymemorial.com.

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