Sharon Lynn Jackson

Sharon L. (Whitacre) Jackson, 77, of Clearwater, Florida, died January 11th, 2024, in Ponte Vedra, FL. Sharon was born Nov. 13th, 1946, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Delbert and Frances Whitacre. Sharon's mother died when she was young, so she spent most of her childhood with her grandparents, Ralph and Viola McNeely. They raised her on a farm near Madison, Missouri. Perhaps she gained her love of animals there, which led her to always have pets, usually cats. Sharon also loved to read, and this continued through her life. She played piano and enjoyed music, which perhaps she inherited from her father. She played flute for the band in high school in Madison, MO. She continued her education at Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State University) in 1964. She attended the University of Missouri beginning in 1969 to obtain a Master's Degree. She worked as a school librarian in Missouri following graduation. Sharon met Bob (Robert) Jackson in 1967 when they were both college students. In 1969, they spent three months in Europe working to cover their travel. They married in 1971 and moved to Florida in 1972. In 1973 Bob began rotations at Suncoast Hospital and they began to build a life in the Clearwater area. They also enjoyed to travel as opportunities arose. From 1975 on she raised her three sons and encouraged them in school and life. Starting in 1995 she worked with Bob as an accountant and bookkeeper at the Gulf-to-Bay Medical Clinic, until they both retired. Sharon was a loving and caring mother, but also a strong and full of wisdom. She provided her children and grand-children with invaluable guidance and support through their lives. She is survived by her brother, David Whitacre, her three sons; John, David and Rob, and six grandchildren (Harvey, Henry, Honora, Claire, Hayes, and Whit). She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob, parents, and brother, Ray. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to charity.