Phyllis May Jackson, 89, a 25-year resident of Coupeville, entered into the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on June 9, 2012 at Careage of Whidbey. Both of her children were blessed to be at her side at the time of her departure.

Mrs. Jackson was born in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, on May 11, 1923, to Philip and Grace Marks. She was raised in Ohio and attended Kent State University with the intention of becoming a veterinarian. Phyllis later moved with her family to Long Beach, Calif., where she met and married Kenneth Jackson. They resided in Long Beach where they raised their two children, Philip and Luann.

Phyllis was employed as a bookkeeper for Beneficial Finance Company for 35 years. Upon retirement, she moved to Coupeville with her dear friend, Virginia Eicher, and they shared a home together. Phyllis was an active member of the Coupeville community as well as an entrepreneur; she volunteered as a bookkeeper for the Island County Historical Museum in her early years there and opened her own business, “Ye Kitchen Shoppe,” on Front Street, which she ran for 18 years.

Gardening, traveling, and entertaining were some of her favorite pastimes. Phyllis loved baking and she was an excellent cook; her freezers were always full of fresh baked pies and her cookie jars full of cookies. Her mashed potatoes, BBQ ribs and lemon meringue pie were out of this world. If her friends or neighbors were sick they would often find her at their front door with a homemade pot of her wonderful soup.

Phyllis will be remembered dearly by her family as a devoted wife and a loving and nurturing mother and grandmother, and by her friends as a sweet and caring person who touched each of their lives in some special way.

Her family extends their appreciation to all her friends and acquaintances for the care you returned to her and the fun times you brought into her life during her many years in your lovely community. We especially want to thank the staff at Careage of Whidbey for your tender, loving care of her for the past year and a half which was such a comfort to all of us.

Phyllis is survived by her two children, Philip Jackson (Trish) of Long Beach, Calif., and Luann Maag (John) of San Jose, Calif.; six grandchildren, Jeremy Jackson (Thanette) and Janae McCall (Travis), all of Long Beach, John Erik Maag, Hannah Maag, Timothy Maag and Brodie Maag (fiancé, Rebecca Lee of Queens, N.Y.), all of San Jose; and four great-grandchildren, Fletcher Jackson (7), Alexandra McCall (5), Leighton McCall (3), and Aiden Rodriquez (4). Phyllis was also an animal lover and leaves behind her toy poodles, Pepper and Amber.

Services will be private. Family and friends are encouraged to share memories and condolences at www.whidbeymemorial.com.