Carolyn Marie Jackson-Stump's Obituary
Carolyn Marie Jeffreys Jackson Stump Born: October 4, 1928 ~ Brooklyn, New York Died: November 23, 2013 ~ Oklahoma City, OklahomaPsalm 116:15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. Carolyn, affectionately known to friends as Jeff, died peacefully in Oklahoma City on November 23, 2013, with her son and daughter at her side. Carolyn was the fifth of six children born to Albert H. and Carrie M. Luddecke Jeffreys. Carolyn was born in Brooklyn, New York on October 4, 1928, and was raised in the Brooklyn and Queens areas. In later years, Carolyn was very proud to learn more of her German, English, Irish, Swiss, French and Austrian heritage through her daughter’s genealogical efforts. Baptized into the Lutheran church, when the Jeffreys family moved into Queens, they all became members of the Episcopal Church. Carolyn was confirmed in that faith at age 10. Carolyn’s brothers Charlie, Albert, Thomas and Arthur and sister, Millie, sang in the choir or served as acolytes. Carolyn graduated from a Brooklyn garment trades high school and hoped to be a clothing designer. Her first job after high school was in a New York City department store’s alterations department. She also had a beautiful voice and entered a contest in 1946, for which she won first place. Carolyn was employed with American Airlines at what became LaGuardia airport in Queens when she developed a long relationship with a girl from Boston, Margie Gherity. Both young women were full of adventure and when American Airlines had a ‘move it or lose it’ job proposal, the girls chose to move to the wilds of Tulsa, Oklahoma in late 1949. Margie met the love of her life, Max Graham, in 1951. He was living at the YMCA and his neighbor was Gene Jackson. There being frequent dances for those living at the Y’s, Margie and Max arranged for Gene and Carolyn to meet at one of those dances. Gene proposed one week later. Being that two of Carolyn’s brothers were marrying that year, Carrie Jeffreys wisely counseled her daughter to wait a year and get to know each other. Carolyn and Gene married in Springfield Gardens, New York on May 24, 1952. The couple established their home in east Tulsa. To this union were born Mary Frances and James Jeffrey Jackson. The couple enjoyed fifteen years of marriage until cancer claimed Gene at an early age in 1967. For the next 33 years, Carolyn was a terrific and devoted mother and grandmother to her three grandchildren. After she retired in April 1989, she volunteered and traveled, something she dearly enjoyed. She fulfilled a long time dream of traveling to Oberammergau, Germany to see the once-a-decade passion play and to England to visit long time friends. With her sister and brother in law, Millie and Bob Pedersen, she took several cruises and fulfilled another goal of having been to Hawaii as well as to Tahiti and the Bahamas. In 2000, Carolyn became reacquainted with an old family and church friend, Jim Stump. After a short courtship, they married on February 24, 2001, at St. Dunstan’s. Jeff and Jim enjoyed breakfasting with friends, traveling to Jim’s lake cabin, attending Jim’s family reunions and spending time with Jim’s children and grandchildren. Jim predeceased Jeff on August 14, 2012. Following Carolyn’s employment with American Airlines, she was employed for five years with the Corps of Engineers before joining the Tulsa office of the Regional Solicitor’s Office of the Department of the Interior. Carolyn retired from that office in April 1989 as the Administrative Assistant to the Regional Solicitor. Carolyn and her family were members of Trinity, St. Peter’s and St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Churches in Tulsa, and in her last year, All Souls’ Episcopal Church in Oklahoma City. Carolyn revitalized the Episcopal Church Women (ECW) group at St. Dunstan’s and served as the President for several years, during which she established an annual Christmas Tea. She likewise, helped St. Peter’s Church reestablish an ECW group and was their first President. Carolyn, together with friend Marcie Landis, were the General Chairmen for an Annual Meeting of the ECW for which St. Dunstan’s was host. At all of her church homes, Carolyn was a member of the church choir. Music was always an integral part of Carolyn’s life. When she and Gene were engaged, they were both part of the Tulsa Opera and had positions in several productions. Carolyn continued to retain season tickets to the Opera until three years before her death. Always one to try new things, she bought an organ so that she could learn how to play some of the music she sang. Carolyn was also an avid bridge player and rarely passed on an opportunity to play. Carolyn was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2003, shortly after the death of her eldest brother, Charlie. As both Jim and Carolyn were aging and needed more assistance, they moved from Carolyn’s home to Forest Hills Assisted Living in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Following Jim’s death at that place, Carolyn moved to Oklahoma City to live nearer to her daughter and grandchildren. As her disease progressed, she moved from independent, to assisted, to memory care living situations. Carolyn lived her final four months under the care of the staff at Prairie Winds in Oklahoma City. The family is very appreciative of the care they gave during the last four months. Carolyn passed her final five days under the excellent care of Crossroads Hospice. Her family cannot thank the ladies and gentlemen of that organization enough. Carolyn was treated with respect, care and compassion by members of her care team. Carolyn’s passing on Saturday, November 23, 2013, at 4:00pm, left a huge void in her family and the literally hundreds of friends left to mourn her loss. Carolyn is survived by her daughter, Mary F. Duffe, grandchildren Jackson C. Duffe and Laura K. Duffe and their father, Clark W. Duffe, and by son James J. Jackson, grandson Jeffrey G. Jackson and his mother, Jennifer Galloway. Also surviving are brother Albert Jeffreys of The Villages, Florida; brother Arthur Jeffreys and his wife, Joan, of South Farmingdale, NY; sister Millie Pedersen and her husband, Bob, of Massapequa Park, NY; sister in law Maureen Jeffreys of Rhinebeck, NY, 26 nieces and nephews, and numerous cousins in New York and other states. In addition to the great number of friends, ‘almost daughters’ Ann Clemens, Betsy Estep, Cathy Smith, Donna Tallon will always hold a special place in Carolyn’s heart and that of her family. Susan, Alan, Kaitlyn and Alyson Frye and Jimmy Stump also mourn Jeff’s loss. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests following Carolyn’s wishes for friends and family to contribute to Parkinson’s research in her name and support those afflicted her in her adopted home state through the Parkinson’s Foundation Oklahoma. This Foundation aids those afflicted with the disease here in Oklahoma and offers support to their families. Their web address is: www.parkinsonoklahoma.com/Parkinson_Foundation_of_Oklahoma/about.html A Requiem Mass Service will be held on Friday, November 29, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church, 5635 East 71st Street. Following the service, a brief grave side internment will be held at the pond side columbarium at Memorial Park Cemetery.
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