Theresa ‘Caroline’ Jackson

December 6, 1948 – July 19, 2021

Theresa ‘Caroline’ Jackson passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family in the early hours of Monday, July 19, 2021, in Springfield, Missouri, at the age of 72. On December 6, 1948, Caroline was born in Kansas City, Missouri, daughter of Joseph Fay and Winifred Fay (Howe) and sister to Thomas Fay. Caroline grew up in Springfield and attended Central High School, where she met her high school sweetheart and loving husband of 55 years, Ernie Jackson, with whom she built a loving family and a successful business. Together they raised three children, son Ernie Jackson Jr., daughter Jennie Schmidt, and son Dave Jackson.

Caroline enjoyed many things that filled her spirit. She enjoyed doll making, quilting, knitting, crocheting, embroidery, and sewing. She made many of Jennie’s baby dresses and several costumes for the kids, including an angel costume Ernie wore in a school Christmas play and a lion costume her grandson Garret wore one Halloween. She made bobbin lace, ceramics, paper books, cards, and enjoyed painting. Caroline was always up for a good flea market where she might find a new cookbook or ceramic donkey to add to her collection. If she wasn’t at a flea market, you might find her in her garden tending her roses.

Caroline had a big heart full of love and was willing to share it with anyone she encountered. She was known as mom to not only her kids, but their friends as well. She passed on her loving heart to all her kids, teaching them compassion, love, comfort, as well as strength. You would often find her in the passenger seat of the car, hand in hand with Ernie headed to their next adventure, “Anywhere USA”, she would say.  Many would say Caroline and Ernie were a match made in heaven. Always holding hands or stealing a quick kiss. Providing the best example of love to their kids.

Caroline was such a trooper, always doing what had to be done no matter what. She passed that down to all her kids, making sure they were all self-sufficient for when they flew the coop. Caroline lived third; always putting God and Ernie first, her family second, and herself last. Memommy and Mama (Maw-Maw) were probably her favorite titles. She loved spending time with her grandchildren, Nicole, Chelsea, Tristin, Garret, and Emily. She always made sure they felt special and knew how much she loved them by creating special memories, even if they didn’t know it at the time. Looking back now, each grandkid had a specific memory. Nicole Jackson, having ‘coffee’ (a splash of coffee with a 1⁄2 cup of milk) and her famous fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and peas; Chelsea Jackson’s is Memommy taking her to Hallmark to get her very own bear just like Memommy’s, and dancing together in Branson; Tristin Jackson’s is just riding around town together and shopping at The Red Roof Outlet Mall in Branson; Garret Schmidt’s is Dominos Pizza for dinner every time they spent the day together; Emily Schmidt’s is making bracelet’s together. She was the kind of grandma to fill the giant concrete basket in the front yard full of treats from the Easter bunny, or take a spur-of-the-moment drive down to Florida, to spend a little extra time with Garret and Emily on vacation. Missed is an understatement,  each of those kids has a stamp on their hearts from the love she shared.

She can be described with a thousand words, but one fits her best; love. She had love!

Caroline is preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Winifred Fay. She is survived, with love and remembrance, by her husband Ernie Jackson; her children Ernie Jackson Jr. and his wife Roberta; her daughter Jennie Schmidt and husband Al; her son Dave Jackson and his wife Michelle; her seven grandchildren Nicole, Chelsea, Tristin, Garret, Emily, Jordan and Trey; her three great-grandchildren Kain, Maylynn, and Sylus; and her brother Thomas Fay. She is also survived by many brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Caroline was loved by all her family and friends and she will be dearly missed.

The visitation for Caroline will be held from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Sunday, July 25, 2021, at Greenlawn Funeral Home North (3506 N. National, Springfield, MO). Everyone is encouraged to wear a bright color, to Celebrate Caroline’s Life. Funeral services to take place at Missouri Veteran’s Cemetery Chapel (5201 S. Southwood Rd., Springfield, MO) at 2:00 pm, Monday, July

26, 2021.