Mabel M. Jackson, 95, of Gilman, died on Saturday, September 12, 2015, at Grinnell Regional Medical Center.
A funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m., Friday, September 18, 2015, at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell. Rev. Cheryl Reidnour, pastor of the United Methodist Church in Gilman, will officiate. Casket Bearers will be Chad, Chris, Bryan, Matt and Keith Jackson, and Terry Collins. Interment will be at the Bethel Cemetery near Lynnville, Iowa.
The family will be present at the funeral home from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Friday.
Should friends desire, memorials may be directed to the Kellogg Historical Society or to United Methodist Church of Gilman and sent in care of the Smith Funeral Home, P.O. Box 368, Grinnell, Iowa 50112.
Mabel was born on May 3, 1920, on the family farm near Lynnville to Robert and Lucille (Stanley) Ashby. She was raised in the Bethel neighborhood and attended rural schools. She graduated from Grinnell High School with the Class of 1938. Following her education she taught in rural schools.
On July 19, 1944, she was married to Wilbur L. Jackson in Newton, Iowa. The couple operated a grain and livestock farm north of Kellogg. She was a homemaker and the mother of two sons. From 1965 to 1981, she owned and operated the Laurel Café. The couple retired in 1985, and they moved to Gilman to make their home. While living in Gilman she was a member of the United Methodist Church. Mabel and Wilbur lived in Arizona during the winter months. Mabel enjoyed baking, playing cards, socializing with friends, listening to opry music and spending time with her grandchildren.
Survivors include her two sons, Danny (Nancy) Jackson of Brookfield, MO and Craig and Gail Jackson of Tipton, IA; four grandchildren, Chad (Rosie) Jackson, Chris (Sarah) Jackson, Bryan (Katie) Jackson and Matt (Jenny) Jackson; six great grandchildren, Diego, Elena, Regina, Kennedy, Lucy and Gabe; and her sister-in-law, Barbara Ashby of Newton.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and one brother, Stanley Ashby.