Essie Faye Jackson

Essie Faye Jackson, 92, of Brandon, Florida, formerly of Big Spring, died Saturday, May 27, 2023 in a Brandon, Florida retirement community. Graveside services will be 10 AM Saturday, July 1, 2023 at the Peace Chapel at Trinity Memorial Park with Rev. Mark Lindsey officiating. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 PM Friday, June 30, 2023 at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home.

Essie Faye Jackson was born February 2, 1931 in Chireno, Texas to Claude and Catherine Crouch. She grew up in East Texas and married Welby Jackson in Lufkin, Texas July 19, 1952. They moved to Big Spring in 1958. They built a wonderful life centered around family, friends, and their church. Essie was a devout Christian and member of First Baptist Church in Big Spring for 52 years. Many Sunday evenings after service, Essie and Welby would spend time with friends playing dominos. A typical New Year’s Eve would include domino games with friends and at midnight they would stop to eat black eyed peas and cornbread to celebrate their fellowship. She and Welby enjoyed family summer outings at the lake boating, water skiing and camping with friends. Essie retired from First National Bank in 1987. After her retirement, they would spend many summers in Mayhill, NM in their motorhome. They really enjoyed traveling, visiting both their children at various locations in the United States. They also volunteered with Campers on Mission for over 20 years. They celebrated their 50th anniversary at Disney World with their children, grandchildren and a couple of nieces. There was a great deal of activity with that celebration and they managed to smile and laugh through all the chaos. Essie and Welby’s marriage lasted for a total of 62 love-filled years. In 2010, they moved to Parks Methodist Retirement Village in Odessa. After Welby’s passing in 2014, Essie moved to Hawthorne Village Retirement Community, in Brandon Florida to be near family. She really enjoyed seeing her grandchildren’s families grow and cherished their visits. Essie truly loved to celebrate any occasion with a good meal, usually cooked by her daughter, who acquired a cookbook from her mom at the age of eleven and started cooking meals at age fifteen. Later, her grandson Jeff became the family chef, Essie savored the fellowship with family and friends. Her smile and laugh will be etched in our memories forever.

Essie is survived by her daughter, Georga Runyan and her husband Dan of Valrico, Florida; a son Dan Jackson and his wife, Marty of Ligonier, Pennsylvania; she was MamMaw to 4 grandchildren, Jason Runyan and his wife, Karen, Jeff Runyan and his wife, Rachel, Nic Rovedatti and his wife, Sarah and Kristi Rovedatti; 8 great-grandchildren, Jacob Runyan, Penelope Runyan, Jackson Runyan, Wyatt Runyan, Jackson Eidson, Miles Edison, Russel Rovedatti and Julia Rovedatti; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by the love of her life, Welby Jackson in 2014, her parents, one brother and three sisters.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Circle Six Ranch Baptist Camp, P.O. Box 976, Stanton, Texas 79782 or Texas Port Ministries, 1103 Cherry Street, Freeport, Texas 77541, where she and Welby spent time as volunteers with Campers on Mission.

Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home and Crematory. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com

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