Jacqueline Laverne Mathews

Jacqueline “Jackie” Laverne Mathews was born in Gary, Indiana, on April 6, 1953, to Lillie B. and Joe W. Wysinger. Jackie was the second youngest of seven children in the Wysinger family. Jackie grew up in a very active and loving household in Gary, Indiana, and would go on to graduate from Roosevelt High School in 1971. She had many roles in her career, like working for the City of Gary in the clerk’s department. She was most proud to serve with the team that pioneered the first cable company in Gary in the 1980s. Jackie would later retire from the financial aid department at IUPUI in 2016. Jackie was the proud mother of four children from her first marriage. Being the mother of Reggie, Jamaal, Chris, and Ashley was the joy of her life. From her children, she was also a grandmother of seven and a great-grandmother of two. Jackie met the love of her life, Duane Raymond Mathews, in 1994, and they were married in 2003. They remained in love and devoted to each other until Jackie’s passing. As the life of the party and America’s oldest living teenager, Jackie belongs to several social clubs, including the Circle City Gary Club. Her laughter, humor and liveliness will be missed by all. Jackie was proceeded in death by her parents, her sister Floria Ann Washington and her two brothers in law, Howard Owens and Glenn Sandifer, Sr. She leaves to cherish her memory, her loving and devoted husband, Duane Raymond Mathews, her three sons, Reginald (Treniese) Kirklen, Jr. of St. Johns, FL, Jamaal Kirklen, Sr. (Taccara Jones) of Phoenix, AZ, Christopher Kirklen of Las Vegas, NV, her only daughter Ashley Kirklen of Cincinnati, OH, her daughter in love, Dionne Williams, her grandchildren Jamaal Kirklen, Jr., Reginald “Trey” Kirklen III, Jaida Jones, Regan Kirklen, Justyce Kirklen, Jaurnee Kirklen, Ja’Kari Kirklen, her two great grandchildren Rio Pernell and Kn’ylana Haney-Kirklen, her surviving siblings Gloria “Too Sweet” Andrews, Joseph W. (Nancy) Wysinger III, Roxie Diann Owens, Janet Roberts, Sandra Sandifer and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. May Jackie‘s zest for life, love of family and friends, and laughter be kept alive through all who knew and loved her.