Jacqueline Wasserman

A celebration of her life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 14, at First United Methodist Church, 411 Coleman St. in Marlin. Burial will follow at Pieper Cemetery in Barclay. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 13, at Adams Funeral Home, 129 Coleman St. in Marlin.

Jackie was born June 18, 1927, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Lawrence J. (Jack) and Grace Estes Whiteford. Her family later moved to Oklahoma City, where she grew up along with her beloved sister, Barbara, and graduated from Central High School.

In 1946, Jackie was a USO girl when mutual friends set her up on a blind date with Harold Wasserman, a shy Texas pilot stationed at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma. During their courtship, Jackie, her sister and mother would stand out on their back porch, waving tea towels as Harold flew over their house and tipped his wing at them. Six months after meeting, they married April 20, 1947 at First Christian Church in Oklahoma City. As a devoted mother and career Air Force wife, she and Harold lovingly raised four children – Karen, David, Diane and Lori – while living a whirlwind military life that moved them from state to state and base to base during their 43-year marriage. But no matter where they lived, after finding a house, they always found a church home.

A gracious Christian woman, Jackie was born to serve, and her life’s work was devoted to taking care of her family, lending her classically trained soprano to numerous church choirs, leading youth organizations and church youth groups and making sure that all who entered her home – wherever that was – felt welcome and loved.

When Harold retired from the Air Force in 1975, the family moved to Marlin to be near his brothers and sisters in central Texas. As she did her entire life, Jackie let her beautiful voice ring as a member of the choir at First United Methodist Church in Marlin. She also served the church, along with so many other wonderful women, as a member of United Methodist Women, administrative board and MYF leader. She also served as chair of the Falls County American Cancer Society for many years.

“Nanny” deeply loved and was so proud of her six granddaughters: Megan Lawson, Sara Lawson Sheffield, Emilie Fogleman, Kuulei Wasserman, Amanda Suda and Charis Schutte. Her life also was blessed by four great-grandchildren: Jackson and Lexi Sheffield and Sofia and Joviana Romero. We will greatly miss our sweet, beautiful and gracious mother and grandmother. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.

She is survived by her children, Karen Lawson and husband Jerry of Mart, Texas; David Wasserman and wife Nanea of Kahului, Hawaii; Diane Schwartz and husband Jeff of Joshua, Texas; and Lori Fogleman and husband Richard of Hewitt, Texas; sister Barbara White of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; her sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family is deeply grateful for the care and compassion given to her by Mark Rutledge and the Hospice Staff of Baylor Scott and White Hillcrest Hospital.

Jackie’s request was that memorials be made to First United Methodist Church, 411 Coleman St., Marlin, TX 76661, or the American Cancer Society.