My Family Tree

MAPLE PARK – Jacqueline "Jackie" Watson, 74, of Maple Park, died peacefully at her home after a brief but fierce battle with Burkitt's lymphoma that took her body, but never her spirit.

Claiming the promise of her savior, she passed from this life to the next surrounded by the love of her family on Friday, Aug. 11, 2006.

She was born Feb. 24, 1932, the daughter of Albert and Rosalie Spencer in Hannibal, Mo. While she still was quite young, Jackie and her family moved to Burlington, Iowa, where she would graduate with fond memories of her art classes.

After graduation, she attended Olivet Nazarene University, where she blossomed into an active student. A music major, she became a member of the traveling Orpheus Choir and several prominent trios as well as the Olivetians, a musical ensemble. She also made time to serve her fellow students by joining the student council as residence president, and the women's O-Club president. Jackie also excelled in sports and made time for softball, track and basketball. Because of her accomplishments, she was honored with a "Who's Who" designation and later was inducted into Olivet's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005.

Jackie used her degree in music to teach the beauty she saw in music to grade school children in Chebanse, Clifton and Askum. In 1955, she was united in marriage to Donald Watson, whom she met in college. Three years later, they made their home in Fort Wayne, Ind., where Jackie switched to the sixth grade, teaching two years at Francis Slocum School.

Eventually, the family would follow Don's work to Elgin, where Jackie shared her passion for teaching at a small grade school in Wayne.

During her 35-year tenure, she finished her master's degree in education from Northern Illinois University, began an after-school reading program that featured her favorite book on Michael Jordon that included a life-size replica of the man, and passed on her most treasured lesson in life: "to teach is to touch a life forever." Upon her retirement in 1997, Jackie became a member of the famed Red Hat Society. She finally could embrace her "dreams" of wearing her favorite colors, red and purple, and subscribe to the virtues of the book, "When I Am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple," and sit down on the pavement when tired, go out in her slippers in the rain, learn to whistle, and learn to spit.

Thousands of memories were made through her years, though some were more memorable than others. Jackie and Don braved the Zion National Park with friends, and less than two years later, they met again to challenge the 26-mile hike across the Grand Canyon. Jackie also became involved in the Senior Olympics and was a member of the She-Ca-Go basketball team that captured the gold medal at the national championships in Tucson, Ariz.

She now leaves her loving husband, Don; two sons, Jay Watson of Malta, and James Watson of Wheaton; one sister, Helen (Richard) Chatfield of Florissant, Mo.; and a family of friends.

She now joins her parents and grandparents, who preceded her in death.

A service to celebrate her life will begin at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 16, at First United Methodist Church, 321 Oak St., DeKalb. The Rev. Jane Eesley will officiate, and interment will follow at Kaneville Cemetery.