Marilyn Jean Jackson

Marilyn Jean Jackson, 71, of Ceresco, MI passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her family and a life long friend on Tuesday, September 23, 2025. She was born in Coldwater, MI on February 16, 1954, the fourth child born to H. Maynard Williams and Marian I. (Frost) Williams.
Marilyn graduated from Athens High School in 1972 and attended Kalamazoo Valley Community College.
In 1976, Marilyn began working in Processing and Packaging at Post Cereals in Battle Creek where she made many good and lasting friends and she really enjoyed her job. She joined the Post 25 Year Club in 2001. Marilyn met the love of her life, John "Jack" Jackson while they both were working at Post. They were married on December 30, 1995. Both Jack and Marilyn looked forward to participating yearly on the Post team for the Corporate Cup.
After retiring, Marilyn and Jack began Marilyn's dream job of collecting and selling antiques. She refinished furniture, repaired antique jewelry, made shades for antique lamps, specialized in pottery and granite ware, had a keen eye for quality antique jewelry, and was delighted in finding quality vintage clothing. Marilyn and Jack spent hours setting up their booth for antique shows, they always had a special knack for setting up the booth in an attractive and enjoyable way. They sold the fruits of their labor all across the US. Her creative talent really kicked in while running this business and she found great joy in the friends that she made and the treasures she both bought and sold.
Growing up on a small farm in Athens, Marilyn learned to love animals both big and small. There were many cats and chickens that roamed in the yard while the cows and her several horses grazed in the fields. She loved every animal. Marilyn's mother stated that she never wanted another dog because of what it did to Marilyn when one died, however they had many more!
Almost every day you could find Marilyn, her brother, Glenn and friend, Cindi riding horses in the fields and roads. Sometimes they rode bare-back and sometimes with saddles. As was her mother as a child, Marilyn became an accomplished equestrian rider, taking her horse to the Calhoun County Fair making that week her favorite of the year. As a middle school student, she loved to be the leader of her horse 4-H Club at Athens Homecoming. For two years, she led the entire parade, riding her favorite horse, Elfie. What a treat for her that was!
While living at their Florida house one winter, she was diagnosed with lung cancer and given less than 1% chance to live. After many of her 10 chemo sessions and 17 radiation sessions, she would go to the golf course to play her favorite game. Sometimes she could play 2 holes, sometimes 9 holes, and sometimes she could only ride around in the cart. During chemo she lost all of her hair and had a wig that she called "Muskrat". There were times that the wind would have it sail off of her head. She found this to be quite funny! The doctor told her that "nobody plays golf right after chemo!" She said "I do!" By the grace of God, excellent doctors, many trips to the golf course, much cooking by Jack and her sister-in-law, Bonnie, Marilyn was declared cancer free and it never returned! Marilyn was a true fighter!
In her 20's, she became a skilled slow pitch softball pitcher and played in many Battle Creek leagues. She was strong and a great batter which was a blessing because running was difficult.
Marilyn had a definite green thumb. In fact, one day Mr. Wedel, the owner of Wedel's Greenhouse in Kalamazoo, stopped at her home to compliment her on her unbelievable, gorgeous flowers in the front of their house. If he had seen the back of her house, he would have been amazed. She had flower beds and hanging baskets like you seldom see in a private house. Each year she and her sister, Evelyn took an empty van and trailer to fill up at their favorite greenhouses. You could always tell which ones were Marilyn's because they were always pink! Their spring flowering day was treasured by each sister every year. Each summer brought family camping trips for the 4 Williams' siblings and their families. Each family packed up their campers and took their dogs (Marilyn's "babies" were her very spoiled Westies and her French bulldog) and headed to Wilderness State Campground near Mackinaw City. This year Marquette was added to the agenda. Marilyn's favorite activity there was watching the ships come into the harbor and load up with iron ore.
This has always been her favorite trip of the summer. Her siblings and many nieces and nephews were there for family fun, going to the beach, card games, corn hole, evening campfires and making smores. Marilyn always enjoyed being with her family. Family card games are held weekly whether the Jackson/Williams families are in Battle Creek or Inverness, FL.
Marilyn always enjoyed being with her family. She displayed that by her constant presence at all of her Battle Creek nieces and nephews summer ball games, tennis meets, volleyball and basketball games! She loved being in the stands watching her "kids" and eating a hot dog.
Driving around Battle Creek or her winter Florida home in her red Mustang convertible with her dogs, Lexi and Degmar, right by her side was pure joy!
All of these experiences reflected that Marilyn enjoyed her life and lived it to the fullest.
Marilyn is survived by her husband of 30 years, John "Jack" Jackson; step-son, Jason Jackson; granddaughter, Sarah Jackson; sister, Eveyln Skarp; brothers, Dr. Kenneth (Bonnie) Williams of Inverness, FL, Glenn (Carol) Williams of Mattawan, MI. She will be remembered as a very loving aunt to niece, Jennifer (Dave) Sandel; nephews, Kris (Cheri) Williams, Ben (Sheri) Skarp, Nathan Williams, and Aaron (Courtney) Williams. She also leaves several great-nieces and nephews with whom she treated like her own children, Ethan and Ellie Sandel, Caden and Amelia Skarp, Connor and Abby Williams, Jonah, Isla, Charlie and Eli Williams.
She was preceded in death by her parents, H. Maynard Williams and Marian I. (Frost) Williams; step-father, Forest Henckel; brother-in-law, David Skarp; great nephews, Noah and Gabriel Skarp; mother-in-law, Maxine Jackson; and father-in-law, Wayne Jackson.
With honoring Marilyn's wishes cremation has taken place.
Visitation will be held at the Baxter Funeral & Cremation Service on Monday, October 6, 2025 from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm.
Burial will take place in Burr Oak Cemetery in Athens, MI.
A celebration of Marilyn's life will be held on Tuesday, October 7, 2025 at 1:00 pm also at the Baxter Funeral & Cremation Service, followed by a luncheon in the banquet facility.
Memorial contributions may be made to ASK (All Species Kinship), P.O. Box 4055, Battle Creek, MI 49016, which is a non-profit agency that helps many different species of animals large and small who are in need. www.allspecieskinship.org.
Arrangements entrusted to the Baxter Funeral & Cremation Service. 269-788-9800. www.baxterfuneral.com.