Wanda L. Jackson, 94, of Harrison, Arkansas, passed away peacefully in her sleep Jan. 20, 2023.
Born Wanda Lou Wilkerson on April 11, 1928, outside of Fisk, Missouri, Wanda spent most of her life in Poplar Bluff, Missouri before moving to Harrison, Arkansas in 2005. After graduation from Fisk High School in 1947, she went to work at a shoe factory as a bookkeeper. In 1948 she married Harold Jackson.
Wanda was born to Frank and Elsie Wilkerson on the family farm. She was the youngest of four siblings. Wanda’s siblings: Buford Wilkerson, Evelyn Whitesell, Alberta Coulson, and her parents preceded her in death. She was also preceded by an infant daughter, Janice Lea Jackson, in 1957.
In 1959, the Jacksons were overjoyed to bring home their daughter, the light of their life, Kimberly Ann Jackson. Wanda was a wonderful mother, homemaker extraordinaire, Girl Scout leader, youth Sunday School teacher, taxi driver to and from piano lessons and baker of fresh cookies for the neighborhood kids. Everyone knew she could throw together a dinner for 12 in 30 minutes!
In 1968, the Jacksons bought a car dealership, formally known as Baumgart Motor Co., which became Jackson Dodge. Wanda served as bookkeeper and office manager for many years. She greatly enjoyed bookkeeping and feeding visiting dealer representatives at a moment’s notice.
In her early 50s, Wanda began showcasing her artistic skills by taking up china painting. She joined a group in Poplar Bluff and painted with that same group of ladies for over 20 years. When she moved to Harrison, she continued to paint, even teaching classes in her home and at North Arkansas College. She painted hundreds, if not thousands, of beautiful pieces over the years and won numerous awards for her work.
Wanda was known to have quite the green thumb. She grew a wide variety of houseplants and flower and vegetable gardens. She fed her neighborhood birds (only the best–black oil sunflower seeds) and hummingbirds and loved to watch them fly in and out. She was also known to have a stray cat or two frequenting her porch for leftovers she would put out for them.
She was a longtime member of the First Christian Church of Poplar Bluff, until she moved to Harrison. After moving, she joined the First Christian Church of Harrison. She was a member of the Hearthstone Sunday School class and dearly loved the class and their outings.
The greatest joy in Wanda’s life was her family. She loved living close to Bob, Kim, Rachel, and Zac, enabling her to attend sporting events, school functions, and birthday parties. Her kitchen was often frequented for a taste of her “famous” cakes, brownies, and coconut cream pies. She was known to say that there was nothing she loved more than being a Nana – and it was a title she more than lived up to.
Wanda is survived by her daughter Kim and husband, Bob, Mouser of Harrison; granddaughter Rachel E. Mouser of Fayetteville, Arkansas, and grandson Zac and wife, Rachel G., Mouser of Pottsville, Arkansas. She is survived by her favorite niece, Karen Coulson Frank and husband, Carl, of Piedmont, Oklahoma. She is also survived by Katie Magnus of Fayetteville, whom she claimed as a granddaughter for the last several years.
Visitation will be held on Jan. 25, 2023, at 1 p.m. with a service to follow at 2 p.m. at the Roller-Christenson Funeral Home in Harrison, Arkansas. Rev. Rex Dickey will be officiating. Graveside services will be held at the Ash Hill Cemetery in Fisk, Missouri at 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Hearthstone Sunday School class at First Christian Church of Harrison Arkansas or The C.A.L.L. The C.A.L.L. is a non-profit organization that mobilizes local churches to serve local children and youth placed in foster care.