Geraldine Greider Jackson

Geraldine Greider Jackson died peacefully on February 13, 2018, at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, at the age of 91. She is survived by her husband, Keith L. Jackson, and a large family and circle of friends. These include her four daughters and their husbands (Barbara Jackson O’Keefe and Daniel J. O’Keefe; Sally Ann Jackson and Curtis Scott Jacobs; Carol Jackson Devoy and Bruce C. Devoy; and Mary Jackson Young and Jerry C. Young), three grandchildren and spouses (Curtis Keith Jackson-Jacobs; Katherine Devoy Scott and Clint Scott; and Erin Charlotte Devoy and Daniel Caruso), and two great-grandsons (Jackson Scott and James Scott). Gerry and Keith were especially close to his sister Maxine and her husband Arthur Borchers, who are currently residents of the Sunnyside retirement community in Sarasota and have their daughter Jo Yturaspe and three grandchildren in the area. Gerry’s sister, Joanne Kelahan, predeceased her, but Gerry remained close to Joanne’s eleven children with husband Jack Kelahan. Gerry was born December 1, 1926, in Detroit, Michigan, to Gerald Keith and Leila Charlotte Greider, but lived most of her early childhood in Salem, Illinois; the family moved to Granite City during the Great Depression. Gerry graduated from Granite City Senior High School in June 1945. She then worked at General Steel Industries (GSI), as did her former schoolmate Keith Jackson, who was employed by GSI as an apprentice. Keith was drafted and served in the Army, and after his military service he returned to GSI as a draftsman. On September 10, 1949, Gerry and Keith were married at the First United Presbyterian Church in Granite City, and they were active members of the congregation for many years. During their nearly 70 years of marriage, they lived in Granite City; Edwardsville, IL; Creve Coeur, MO; and Sarasota, FL. They also maintained a second home in Urbana, IL. Early in their marriage, Gerry concentrated on raising their four daughters. At the age of 41, when her first child went away to college, Gerry fulfilled her lifelong dream of earning a college degree herself by enrolling at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, studying English and history. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1972. Keith’s career as an engineer progressed as well, and after a series of promotions he was named President of the GSI Engineering Division. In this role, he traveled extensively in Europe and Africa to represent GSI’s products. Gerry became a partner in this work, traveling with him and also entertaining foreign business associates at their home in Creve Coeur. This was not her career, but she took great satisfaction from being part of the GSI team. While living in Creve Coeur, Gerry and Keith were members of the Greenbriar Country Club and were both avid golfers. Soon after Keith’s retirement in 1989, he and Gerry chose Sarasota, Florida, as their primary retirement residence, purchasing a home in the Meadows golf development. They returned to their summer residence in Illinois every summer, to stay closely connected with family. Geraldine Jackson lived her life with an intensity of commitment that is too rarely encountered. Any task she undertook, as mundane as pulling weeds or as transformative as pursuing advanced education, was completed meticulously. She was compelled to make her world lovely and share it with others, and she made the lives of so many people—not just her family and friends, but also fellow students, business associates, and their networks—more interesting and beautiful. Those she cared about most were loved unreservedly, and were secure in that knowledge. Gerry and Keith both believed deeply that everyone—and most especially they themselves—should always give their best efforts to any enterprise. Gerry expected people with great gifts to be great contributors, and she herself never held back. This teaching itself was a great gift to everyone who was privileged to know her. A Memorial Service will be held at the Sunnyside Chapel in Sarasota, at 2:30 PM on Monday, February 19. Those who wish to make a gift in honor of Geraldine Jackson can contribute to the Geraldine Jackson Fund at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 811 South Palm Avenue, Sarasota FL 34236. To do so, contact development@selby.org or visit their memorial contributions web page at https://7082.blackbaudhosting.com/7082/TributesDevelopment.

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Geraldine Greider Jackson

December 1, 1926 - February 13, 2018