Nancy Jean Jackson's Obituary
Nancy Jean Howdeshell Jackson, was born on February 5, 1935, at Gobbler’s Knob, Herbert's Place, Grayson County, Texas. She left this world on December 5, 2021, leaving her earthly home while residing in Sugarland, Fort Bend County, Texas. She was 86 years and 10 months old.
Preceding her in death was her high school sweetheart and the love of her life, Johnny Jackson. Also passing away before her was her mother and father, Joseph Marion Howdeshell, Jr. and Mary Lou Hall Howdeshell, along with her brother James Lowell Howdeshell. Preceding her in death are two sons-in-law, Alan Pittman and John Marino.
She is survived by her 4 children, Danny Jackson and his wife, Brenda of Sugar Land, Texas. Their 3 children, Amy Jackson of Houston, Texas and her daughter, Claire Whitney; Jonathan Jackson and his wife, Stephanie of Irving, Texas; and Sean Jackson and his wife, Brooke of Houston, Texas. Stephen Jackson and his wife Fretta of Copperas Cove, Texas. Their 2 children, Corey Jackson and his wife, Stephanie of Eugene, Oregon, and their 2 children, Hope and Selah; Jared Jackson and his wife, Kristina Bordine, of Austin, Texas, and their 3 children, Franco, Ira and Alfred. Luanne Regas and her husband, Randy of Sugar Land, Texas and their 3 children, Jenn Garcia and her husband, Chris, of Sugar Land, and their child, Vincent; Kaleigh McGrath and her husband, Greg, of Sugar Land, Texas, and their 3 children, Evan, Emma and Hannah; Jackson Regas and his wife Lisa, of Sugarland, Texas, and their 4 children Haleigh, Aubrey, Emalee and Jamie. Lauree Jackson Pittman Marino and her 3 children, Chad Pittman and his wife, Amber Mitchell, of San Diego, California; Nicholas Pittman and his wife, Elisha Winston of Midlothian, Virginia; Kimberly Pittman and her 2 children, Jackson and Benjamin. Additionally, she is survived by numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and countless friends scattered all over the world.
Nancy and Johnny met while they were in high school at Howe High, Howe, Texas. Johnny told her on their first date that he loved her and wanted to marry her. (However, there is no recorded proof that this actually occurred, and it may have been a preacher’s story, but we are going with it.) After getting married on June 26, 1953, in Howe, they began their marriage and ministry in Pottsboro, Texas. This ministry was quickly followed by Texas ministries at churches of Christ in Denison, Richardson, Amarillo, Houston, Irving, Sugarland and finally, Desoto. All along the way, Nancy and Johnny had their 4 children, developed scores of friendships and made a profound impact on the lives of an incredible number of people the Lord put into their path daily.
While in high school, Nancy Jean Howdeshell, was Valedictorian, captain of her high school basketball team, class officer, voted most beautiful, and was a member of numerous clubs. (That may be embellished just a bit, but no one can really challenge it and it is really mostly true.) She did graduate from North Texas State University,
Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Education. (That can be verified!) She obtained her degree while raising 3 teenagers and an overly active pre-teen. (Sorry Lauree, but you know it’s true). Her amazing accomplishment of the balancing act of raising a family, making spectacular grades, and being on constant display and scrutiny as a minister's wife, may have only been outdone by achieving 30 years of public-school teaching of elementary school kids. Nearly 20 of those teaching years were conducted in a Dallas inner-city elementary school.
It is also important to note that Nancy’s life was filled with hardships that bring to mind the term unfair or unjust. She never used those terms, but those of us who knew her well, sure thought they applied. She grew up poor during the depression. As a young child, she experienced the embarrassment of having to retrieve her father from difficult situations so the rent and food money wouldn’t be wasted. These difficulties led to an adulthood of never wanting to let go of things and never wasting anything. (“Surely, that can be used for something”.) When she finally retired from teaching school, ready to travel and spend time with her life partner and enjoy her grandchildren and the eventual great-grandchildren, she was shocked at the sudden death of the only man she ever loved. If that shock wasn't difficult enough, 25 months later her world as she knew it ended with a devastating stroke. The stroke took away her beautiful singing voice, her language, her ability to communicate, to read the thousands of books she loved to devour, to watch television and go to movies. The stroke eventually took away her freedom.
After Johnny died, she longed for 22 years to be reunited with him in the bosom of her Lord. That was her common prayer communicated by pointing to her heart and to the heavens.
She may have experienced what we might call a “tough” life, but she never lost her trust and faith in her Savior and Lord. She never seemed to waiver knowing that she would once again regain her singing voice, that she would be reunited with her Johnny, that once again she would be enthralled in the grips of an intense novel, that she would be able to communicate with others and understand what they were saying to her.
Our daddy was a wonderful preacher and a great man, but it was momma who taught us how to pray. She taught us to love God’s word by reading us Bible stories from the old Bible Story Book. Momma taught us to be loyal to our family, no matter what. She showed us how to love our children unconditionally and to be “one” with our spouse. Mom showed us how God is always faithful even when it seems like life is unfair and God has left you for a time in a condition that seems terribly unjust.
Anytime, any of us kids left the house to go on a date or to a party or even to a church youth group gathering, mom would say to us as we left, “Remember whose child you are”. We knew she could have meant you're the preacher's kid, people will
look at you differently or you’re Johnny and Nancy’s kid, what you do will reflect back on us. However, what she really meant was you are God’s child and that’s what really matters in this world.
Nancy, Mom, Momma, Me-maw, Great Me-maw, Great Mee Mee, Fancy Nancy; whatever name we call you, we love you and we know you love us. Thank you for teaching us to love each other, to help each other, and to always keep God at the center of our lives and hearts.
Thank you for the gift of reading, singing, music and always laughter.
We love you and will carry you with us always.
At this time, funeral services for Mrs. Nancy Jean Jackson are pending, please check back to the Restland Funeral Home website at a later date for full service information.
Funeral arrangements for Mrs. Nancy Jean Jackson have been faithfully entrusted to Restland Funeral Home and Cemetery, which is located at 13005 Greenville Ave., at the intersection of Restland Road, Dallas, Texas 75243, and can be reached at (972) 238-7111.
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