Wanda J. (Smock) Jackson

Wanda J. Jackson, 90, of Carterville, passed away Wednesday, December 25, 2019, at her home.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, January 2, 2019, at Riggin-Pillatsch & Burke Funeral Home in Carterville, with Revs. Ron Henwood and Brad Harlow officiating.  Private family burial will be at a later date in I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Shelbina, Missouri.  Visitation will be from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m., Thursday.

Wanda was born on August 16, 1929, in Clarence, Missouri, to Chester and Nelle Smock.

She attended Fairview Grade School then on to Hannibal High School and Shelbyville High School. Wanda graduated from Truman University only later to attend Ohio State University for 3 summers and additional study work at SIU.

Wanda was a speech therapist for Mexico, Missouri, Cahokia and Quincy, Illinois, school districts, where she opened speech therapy programs for those school systems. She also spent a year in Tokyo, Japan, helping the children of American Service personnel.  

She also spent three years as a reservation agent for Northwest Airlines in Minnesota.

Wanda came to Herrin High School in 1963 to do another joy in her life: physical education. She spent 23 years there having the time of her life with wonderful students. Her biggest accomplishments were getting girl's sports programs started and to have co-ed physical education. She loved her student teachers and faculty, and assisting Bill Clarida with choosing Letter Girls and others for football performances.

She also worked as the YCC Director at Crab Orchard Wildlife Refuge in the summers.

It was in Cahokia on the volleyball court, that she met her husband, Bill. They were married December 27, 1959. After she retired, Wanda enjoyed 43 cruises with Bill, who owned Bill's Travel Center. She also was an avid sports fan, especially football. Most of all, she loved her friends.

Wanda was a member of the P.E.O. MN Chapter; Retired Teachers Association and organizations. 

She had been a longtime member of the First Christian Church and was most recently attending First Baptist Church in Carterville.

Memorial contributions can be made to Residential Hospice or to First Baptist Church in Carterville.

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