Mary Ruth Jackson

Mary Ruth (Kaeck) Jackson, born on April 22, 1932, passed away on January 20, 2025, at the age of “29” as she would tell everyone. She graduated from Riverside High School in 1949 and spent her early years in Shelby County. On April 17, 1949, she married John L. Jackson (deceased, 2007) in Jellico, KY and together they made their home in Logan County.

Mary Ruth was the daughter of the late Webster and Mary J (Ely) Kaeck. She grew up with loving siblings, including brothers Millard (Ev), Norman (Rosemary), John (Sherrill), and Nelson (Pat), and sister Daisy Anderson (John). She is survived by siblings Ellen Brenner (Philip), and Judith Carr, and brother-in-law Howard “Bud” Jackson, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Mary Ruth and John had three children:

 • Thomas E. Jackson (deceased, 2006), DeGraff, OH

 • Kathy Jackson Brown and her husband, Cowboy Dale Brown (deceased, 2016), Maplewood, OH

 • Samuel J. Jackson and his wife, Brenda (Hodge) Jackson, Lewistown, OH

She was blessed with many grandchildren:

• Tonya Sue Haag, Dayton, OH

• Steven Poppe and his wife, Heather (Staton), Fredericktown, OH

• Chelsea (Poppe) Baldwin and her husband, Scott, West Liberty, OH

• Michelle (Poppe) Sip and her husband, Ley, Westerville, OH

• Christina (Jackson) Kelley and her husband, Cody, Huntsville, OH

• Bradley Jackson and his wife, Lindsay (Hauck), DeGraff, OH

Mary Ruth also had 19 great-grandchildren: Brandon, Trace, and Ryan (Cynthia) Poppe; Sarah and Leah (deceased, 2020) Staton, Deva (Austin) Geiger; Lance (Rylie) and Liam Baldwin; Leylynn, Serey, and Dylan Sip; Landen and Amelia Jackson; Christian, Caleb, and Cole Kelley. She was further blessed with 3 great-great-grandchildren, Gracie and Riley Poppe and Zachary Ross. In addition to her grandchildren, Mary Ruth shared a special bond with a family friend, Ryan Roser, and his wife, Michelle.

If you were to ask Mary Ruth about her favorite hobby, she would say skydiving. She absolutely loved it. The last time she went skydiving was on her 90th birthday, when she joined her great-grandson for a gender reveal. After their jump, they celebrated with pink color cannons. Mary Ruth also went skydiving with several of her grandchildren over the years and cherished every moment of it.

She loved adventure and accompanied her grandson on a hot air balloon ride when he proposed, making it an unforgettable moment. Mary Ruth enjoyed boat rides on Indian Lake with her family, relishing the simple joys of life.

Mary Ruth was an avid coffee drinker, often drinking several pots of black coffee a day. She joked that the only good use for water was to make more coffee. She wasn’t much for traveling, though she did go on a cruise and traveled to Kansas City once, as well as Tennessee in the 1960s. Her idea of a perfect evening was a good book and a cup of coffee at the kitchen table. She especially loved reading about presidents and their wives, movie stars and, and figures like Woody Hayes. She was an Ohio State Buckeyes fan and loved attending Indian Lake football games when her children were younger.

Mary Ruth worked at the election polls for an incredible 62 years. She was a member of various organizations throughout her life, including the Miami Grange, Gretna Brethren Church (where she taught nursery for many years), the Ohio Holstein Association, and the Logan County Holstein Association. She worked hard alongside her family, milking cows at home while her husband and children showed cattle at fairs. Despite her responsibilities on the farm, she never missed a single show.

Mary Ruth worked at Honda for 19 years and retired at the remarkable age of 86. Her dedication to hard work started early in life, as she helped with farm chores, milked cows, and handled every bale of hay and straw that was baled on the family farm. She also cared for her grandmother in their home for several years, providing love and support until her passing.

Mary Ruth was a proud alumna of both Port Jefferson School and Jackson Center School. She was also a member of the Jackson Center United Methodist Church and attended Rum Creek Methodist Church.

Things that will be greatly missed about Mary Ruth include her loving and caring personality. No one left her house without hearing her say, “Do not speed—I don’t want to read your name in the paper!” She always reminded everyone to “close that door and make sure it’s tight.” She often took her loved ones’ faces in her hands, saying, “Love ya, love ya, love ya,” followed by kisses all over, much to the delight of her grandchildren.

Throughout her life, Mary Ruth found joy in her family, work, and her faith. Her strength, kindness, humor, and passion for life will be remembered and cherished by all who knew her.

A memorial service and celebration of life will be held on February 8, 2025, with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m., followed by service at the Jackson Center United Methodist Church in Jackson Center, Ohio. A meal will follow the service. Ryan Roser will officiate.

in lieu of flowers please donate to Discovery Riders, 1797 SR 47 E, Bellefontaine, Ohio 43311.

DARING & SANFORD FUNERAL HOME, DEGRAFF is honored to serve the Jackson family and encourages anyone to share a fond memory or message of condolence at www.edsfh.com.

Family Written Obituary