Marlene Jackson

Marlene Marie Jackson died Jan. 21, 2025, at the age of 78.

Marlene Marie Jackson

December 28, 1946 – January 21, 2025

Marlene Marie Jackson softly floated to earth in the hands of God on December 28, 1946 in the California coast town of Long Beach to parents Alexander Zuel Osborn and Phyllis Marie Smith. She was later joined by surviving sisters Theresia (Fisher) and Sherry (Martin) and brother Alex who preceded her in death. As the oldest of four, Marlene took her duties seriously, shaping her ethos of hard work and responsibility for the rest of her life.

However, this did not stop her from being an adventurous young woman, sometimes cutting school to go surfing or riding shotgun on motorcycles down Pacific Coast Highway with boys from her high school or a one time daredevil ski event that kept her surgeon busy for a day. Not surprisingly she was a working woman of far-flung talents. She worked in the restaurant business, banking and eventually became a legendary school bus driver in the snows of Tahoe, California. She concluded her working life at Tharco Packaging in Kent. As a single mom, she learned DIY home maintenance, auto repair, she could chop wood like Paul Bunyan and cook like Julia Child. Friends and family knew that Marlene’s empathy was boundless. She constantly helped others in need with healthcare, gardening, meals and animals even when her own health was in doubt. The later loves of her life were Scruffy and Betty, two adopted stray cats on whom she showered epic affection and who in turn endlessly entertained Marlene.

Through the last several years of health challenges she was buoyed by an unshakable faith in God’s Providence. After 78 years of a life well lived, Marlene gently returned into God’s loving embrace on January 21, 2025 from her beloved home in Enumclaw. Her Memorial will be on Saturday February 8 , 11am at Mt Rainier Christian Center in Enumclaw.