Obituary of Jacklyn Ruth Latimer

Jackie grew up in Des Moines, WA with her Mom, Dad, sister and brother. She was very much a mommy’s girl and loved to do everything with her mom, especially watch and help her bake in the kitchen. She loved tricking her brother into playing house with her. She looked up to her sister and loved watching her get all dolled up. She loved her dad and inherited his sense of humor. Jackie attended Mt. Rainer High School. During her high school years, she met and fell in love with Richard Kelly Latimer. They dated for about four years and married on April 18, 1969 when she was 19. At 21 years old, she gave birth to Deborah Mae Latimer and four years later gave birth to Kelly Lee Latimer. She was a stay at home mom for several years and loved having a family. She considered this the most important thing she did in her life – to raise her two girls and to be a wife to her husband. She eventually began working as a preschool teacher to a class of 30 three year olds. She could teach and run that group of kids like nobody’s business. She loved children and was wonderful with them. Sadly, she lost her husband of 19 years in 1987. She did her best to move on and continued to live her life and enjoy good times with her daughters, family and friends. Jackie loved people and loved to talk. This was put to good use when she went to school and became an esthetician. She worked in salons for many years doing nails and pedicures and always enjoyed talking it up with her clients. Later, when she worked for various companies doing customer service and medical claim calls, she again found joy in talking with and helping others. Jackie had a very quick wit and brought many smiles and laughter to people. She was very strong and assertive and had no qualms about speaking her mind. She had a “straight-shooter, tell it like it is” personality. She was very friendly, generous, and loving. She loved to decorate for all the holidays and bake and prepare wonderful food for all the holidays as well. She also loved having her brother and sister and their families over for holidays, as well as visiting at their homes. She adored her nieces and nephews and had special connections with each of them. She loved music and often went to concerts with her daughters. Her all-time favorite singer/band was Bon Jovi. She also loved animals and had many pets over the years. Closest to her heart was her toy poodle Cinnamon, but she also adored her cats too. In later years, Jackie greatly enjoyed her visits to see her sister, Connie, in both Michigan and California. She loved talking to her sister on the phone. They also loved to send each other pictures of new furniture, or a decorated table, or knick knacks so they could share their homes with each other. Jackie also looked forward to the times when she could talk and visit with her brother. She also relied on them for the love and support they always gave in so many ways. She knew she could always turn to them and they would always be there for her. She loved her sister and brother and was deeply grateful to have them in her life. Jackie loved spending her time with her daughters. She always welcomed a visit from them or went to spend time with them at their homes. She loved them both dearly. She also loved her daughter Deborah’s dogs, Mazie and Kenzie, like granddaughters. During this past year and a half her greatest joy was her grandson Ricky. Even up to the very last few days of her life, he brought light and joy to her eyes and a smile to her face. Jackie made her transition peacefully with both her daughters at her side. She is survived by her daughter Deborah Mae Jenson, son-in-law Scott Jenson, granddaughter Cierra Jenson, daughter Kelly Lee Dodd, son-in-law Harold Dodd, grandson Rick Holden Dodd, sister Constance Lee Bennett, brother-in-law James Bennett, nephew Kirk Miltimore, brother Thomas Winfield Mott, sister-in-law Veretta Mott, nephew Thomas Mott II, nephew Ken Mott, niece Laura Sokolowski, sister-in-law and husband, Jeri and Doug Smart, niece Allison Smart, niece Kimberlyn Totten, brother-in-law and wife Tom and Sharon Lovejoy, nephew Brad Lovejoy, and niece Merilee Lovejoy, her best friend of 45 years Bonnie Steele, and many more loved friends and co-workers. She was preceded in death by her husband Richard Kelly Latimer, nephew Jeff Miltimore, mother Doris Mae Mott, father John Edgar Mott, mother-in-law Patricia Green, and father-in-law Robert Green. Memorial and Celebration of Life Service: 3:00 pm, November 28, 2009 at Unity Center of Tacoma, 2102 S 23rd Street. In lieu of flowers please donate to the American Cancer Society.