Ellen Mae Jackson

Beloved mother, Grandma, and Great Grandma

Born December 10, 1929 Los Angeles California

Pass Away November 13, 2021 Palmdale California.

Ellen Mae Romero Jackson was born in Los Angeles on December 10, 1929 and is the middle child of her parents Laurel Silva Romero and Elizabeth Cannom Romero. She had three brothers and three sisters. Her brothers are Albert, Charles, and Larry. And her three sisters are Laura, Betty, and Grace.

Ellen was born four months after the start of the Great Depression that lasted from August 1929 to March 1933. Ellen said it was one of the most difficult times her family had to deal with because sometimes it was hard for her father to put food on the table. Getting work and paying bills was not easy.

Just three days before Ellen's 12th birthday she had witnessed one of the darkest tragedies of American history. It took place on Sunday December 7, 1941 when Imperial Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. On that day 2,403 United States citizens perished, including 68 civilians. This would push America to enter World War II. Her brother Charles, who was 17 at the time, shortly thereafter enlisted into the United States Navy. Ellen remembered vividly the day her family returned home from church and began to prepare to eat their sunday dinner, when her mother had broken the news to her and her family that there had been an attack on Pearl Harbor by Imperial Japan. The very next day Ellen listened to the State of the Union Address via radio and heard the famous quote by President Franklin D. Roosevelt "Yesterday, December 7, 1941 a day that will live in infamy".

In 1948 Ellen graduated from John Marshall High in Los Angeles and not long after married John Fredrick Jackson. They would then go on to have three children together; Johnny, Linda, and Evie.

On July 24, 1971 at the age of 41, Ellen became a young grandmother to her first grandson, Richard James Espinoza Jr. (Boggie). She would often remark that "becoming a first time Grandma was one of the happiest moments of her life, but most of all a life changing experience". She would later be given two more grandsons, David and Scott Sinclair, and her only granddaughter Rachel Espinoza.

In 1974 she graduated from Los Angeles City College with an Associates Degree in Accounting. This degree led to her job working for the Los Angeles County Assessor Office. She advance She worked hard and later advanced to become Division Chief of Personnel and Human Resources. Later retiring in 1981 but still worked, investing in Real Estate. On march 10, 2010 another blessing came her way when she became a first time Great Grandmother to her great grandson Johnathon Richard Villanueva. and her second great grandson Grayson William Sinclair.

Through Ellen's 91 years of life she walked through many pages of American History. From the Great Depression, World War II, The Korean War, The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, The Vietnam War, Neil Armstrong's first Moon Landing, Watergate, The Iran Hostage Crisis, The Miracle on Ice, The Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster, and even the World Trade Center Terrorist Attacks on 9/11. Ellen had once said " America has been through it all and in the end America always prevails."

Ellen had been overjoyed the day her beloved Dodgers, after 32 years, had finally won the 2020 world series! She watched every game and was known to call her grandchildren to ask when the game would be on television. The very next day after the Dodgers had won the World Series she called her grandson Richard and proudly proclaimed, " finally the Dodgers have done it! They are the Champions!".

Through America's finest and darkest hours Ellen took pride in her patriotism and showed her support for our US Military whenever possible. In her words some of her biggest accomplishments were watching her children and grandchildren grow into adulthood. Most of all was watching her great grandchildren begin their journey in life.

Ellen had a passion for gardening, succulents being a personal favorite of hers. She would call both cactus plants and succulents God's greatest artwork.

Ellen is survived by her two daughters Linda Espinoza and Evelyn (Dennis) Sinclair. Her three Grandsons Richard (Boggie) Espinoza, David Sinclair, and Scott (Margaret) Sinclair. Her only Granddaughter Rachel (Juan Villanueva) Espinoza. Her two Great Grandchildren Johnathan Villanueva and Grayson Sinclair. Her Great Nieces Heather and Holly and Great Nephew Rubin.