Mary Lindsay White Jackson

1955 - 2015

Jackson, Mary Lindsay White



Mary Jackson was born in Columbus Ohio March 12, 1955, the daughter Dr. Sydney White, Professor of Geology at Ohio State University, and Patricia Shearer White. Mary, who went by the nickname Missy, attended the Columbus School for girls. Growing up, she spent her summers with her mother and father at the Univ. of Colorado Science Lodge, sometimes helping her father with his field work and often hiking with her mother in the Mountains above Boulder. In her teen years, she attended Cheley Summer Camp (near Rocky Mountain National Park) where she eventually became a camp counselor. Missy grew up loving the mountains and high alpine country.

Missy attended Tufts University in Boston, Mass. where she studied geology and was an active member in the Tufts' Mountain Club. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Tufts in 1977, and then went on to get her Master's Degree in Geology at Colorado State University. She received her Master's Degree in June of 1979. While at C.S.U. she met her future husband, Timothy J. Jackson who was also working on a degree in Geology. On their first date, they climbed Mummy Peak in Rocky Mtn. Nat. Park (and climbed many peaks together thereafter). Missy and Tim were married in Columbus, Ohio on August 21st, 1979. They then immediately moved to Austin, Texas, where Missy began a job as a geologist for the Bureau of Economic Geology where she worked for 13 years. Missy was an avid birdwatcher and member of the Central Texas Audubon Society where she served a term as vice president. Missy and her husband also enjoyed canoeing and sailing on Lake Travis, visiting the Gulf coast, hiking, camping and canoeing in the Hill Country, and traveling to New Mexico to backpack in the mountains. And they enjoyed train watching. Missy loved trains.

In 1989, their first child, Jeffrey, was born, followed by their second child, Matthew, in 1993. In 1994, Missy and her family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico where Missy began her new career as a mother at home. She discovered child daycare at Covenant Presbyterian Church and the family soon joined the church. Missy was active member of the church, where she sang in the choir and served as a Deacon.

As the boys grew up and went to school, Missy began to do part time work as an office assistant for Berger Briggs, Bond Paint Company, Grayland Corporation, and David Lee, Atty. But she was always at home for her boys when they came home. Once her boys had grown, Missy began a full time position at Presbyterian Health Care, where she worked for several years.

Living in Albuquerque, Missy and her family continued to enjoy the outdoors, camping and hiking in the New Mexico, Colorado and Utah. She especially loved desert and alpine wild flowers, and, as with birds, seemed to know them all. She enjoyed Pueblo Indian history and took her family to see many Pueblo Ruins (which her boys did not always appreciate). Missy was very active, with her boys and husband, in Boy Scout Troop 166. She loved to go camping and backpacking with the scouts and to help the young scouts with their requirements. She taught geology and sailing merit badges and was a member of the Order of the Arrow.

Missy cared deeply for the earth and its environment. She supported the Sierra Club, Nature Conservancy, Defenders of Wildlife, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, and Audubon Society throughout much of her adult life.

Missy's life was full of joy and love for her family and friends. She was a quiet, gentle, kind and loving spirit and is greatly missed. A Memorial Service will be Saturday, November 21, 2015, 11:00 a.m. at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 9315 Candelaria NE, Albuquerque, NM. Please visit our online guestbook for Missy at

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