Marilyn Anita Jackson

Marilyn Anita Jackson

OLEAN - Marilyn Anita Jackson, of 8263 Green Road, passed away Sunday (Aug. 7, 2022) following a long illness.

Marilyn was born July 10, 1952, to Ora and Hazel Willard, in Wellsville.

Marilyn and Dick Cline ran a tack and saddle shop called the Broken Spoke Saddlery located in Olean on Union Street for 15 years. They traveled often and attended flea markets as vendors and buyers of goods.

Marilyn worked for Bob and Judy Styles at the Chuck Wagon Restaurant on and off for 40 years. She worked as a cook and a server until she became too sick from her illness to continue working any longer.

Marilyn was an avid seller of Avon and Tupperware products. She did this for 25-plus years. She worked and volunteered in Olean at the Knights of Columbus. She did prep cooking and serving at their dinner functions and volunteered to help with bingo nights. Marilyn was also a volunteer for the Allegany County Department of Aging.

Marilyn loved working and was always busy doing something. She had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to make people smile and laugh. She loved the outdoors and did a lot of traveling and camping. Marilyn also loved animals and often took in stray cats. She especially loved her cat Harley who was a great hunter and met his end at 16 years old while trying to protect Marilyn from a rabid raccoon.

She loved books and reading them, this made her an excellent Scrabble player, which she also loved. She loved putting puzzles together and was a great gambler too. Marilyn always looked out for other people and was always eager to help family and friends.

Marilyn is survived by her daughter, who she gave up for adoption but was later reunited with, Elizabeth Clark Naert of De Moines, Iowa; sisters, Janice Cransdale, Jackie Murphy and Mary Ryan; brothers, Jon Willard, Kevin Willard of Portville and Tim Willard; several nieces and nephews; great-nieces and great-nephews; a few aunts; several cousins; and her best friend of 30 years, Keri Sirianni Brock of Olean.

Marilyn was predeceased by her parents, Ora and Hazel Willard; a sister, Jane Bailey; and a brother, Melvin Willard.

Friends will be received from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday (Aug. 13, 2022) at the Letro-McIntosh-Spink Funeral Home, Inc., 646 E. State St., Olean. The Rev. Chuck Maine, pastor of Epic Church, will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 2714; Olean Public Library, 134 N. Second St., Olean, NY 14760; or the Bolivar Public Library, 390 Main St. Bolivar, NY 14715.

Online condolences may be made at www.letromcintoshspinkfuneralhome.com.