Obituary of Karen Marie Jackson

Karen Marie (McGuire) Jackson Karen, 58, of Orland, California, passed away October 18, 2011, in Olympia, Washington, after a courageous 9-year battle with lung cancer. Karen was the daughter of Lt. Colonel William Henry McGuire (USAF, Ret) and Theresa Genevieve McGuire. She is survived by: her daughter and son-in-law Genevieve and Michael Neely (Lacey, WA), granddaughter Alyssa Neely (Lacey, WA); her brother Brian McGuire (Corpus Christi, TX), and sisters Margo Lemner (Chico, CA), Brenda Gray (Princeton, CA), Carol Kennell (Williamsburg, VA), Patricia Leonard (Novato, CA), and Sharon Doke (Elko, NV), as well as many nieces and nephews. Karen was predeceased by her parents, her brother Michael Lian McGuire, and her sister JoAnne Dyess. Karen Marie McGuire was born in Hampton, Virginia, but also lived in Germany and Florida. After her father retired, the family moved to Chico where Karen attended Notre Dame Elementary School from third grade until high school. Karen graduated from Chico Senior High School in 1971. She married Frederick Eugene Jackson and had many wonderful adventures before (and after) giving birth to their daughter, Genevieve Marie Jackson. In order to be a stay-at-home mom, Karen started a home-based business doing typesetting. Her business, Typografx, grew and lasted for 20 years in Chico. After this adventure, Karen decided to go back to school! In December 2000, at 47 years old, she graduated from CSU, Chico with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science. This started a new direction in Karen’s life and she moved to the Bay Area to work as a software engineer for Advanced Micro Devices. While in the Bay Area, she was diagnosed with lung cancer for the first time. The affected lobe was removed and after recovery times with her brother and daughter, Karen picked up the pieces and started again. Back in Chico, she accepted a job with Digital Path and then bought herself a home in Orland. During the next several years Karen also worked for Travidia, SunGard/Bi-Tech, and, most recently, Build.com. During that time, she had a partial lung resection for cancer in 2009, and was again diagnosed in 2011. This final diagnosis did not happen soon enough and the lung cancer had spread to her brain and liver. But this did not get her down. Karen cheerfully began chemotherapy, determined as ever to beat the odds. She responded well to the chemotherapy and was living a good quality of life during treatment and recovery at her daughter’s home in Washington State for the final two months of her life. Karen fought tirelessly, despite the odds, and gave her all to overcome obstacles in order to have more quality time with her friends and family. However, despite her tremendous efforts and show of heart, there were clotting issues due to the cancer that caused a stroke which took her very quickly. Karen died peacefully in her sleep, surrounded by family and knowing how much she was loved. Karen was blessed with both intelligence and creativity. She loved to create art – air brush, water color, oil paint, sketching, computer art, etc. Karen also played piano and electric guitar, and loved to work in her garden and tend to her house plants. Her favorite place to be was the ocean where she enjoyed tide pooling, snorkeling, scuba diving, abalone diving, rock climbing, and relaxing with friends and family. Karen found tremendous pleasure in all the little things in her life – from the humming birds on her porch to the changing color of the leaves and everything in between. Whether she was exploring the river on a canoeing or rafting trip, or diving into the code of a computer program, she loved everything life had to offer. Karen delighted in all the wonders of the world and perceived everything as special and magical. She made the world around her a brighter place. Karen was inspirational and was loved by all. Her amazing personality is impossible to forget! She embraced life fully and found the beauty in everyone and everything around her. Karen expressed her thoughts and appreciation to the people in her life and lived without regrets. She was a good listener and a great friend. She valued her time with family and friends above all else. Karen lived in the moment and was always ready to embark on new and fun adventures! Her endless energy, determination, optimism, and grace set an example of how to live well. Karen’s years may have been short, but she lived a full and happy life. We are lucky to have had her in our lives and to have shared her playful spirit. Karen was a fabulous daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, aunt, cousin, and friend. She will be missed tremendously, but would want each of us to live every day to its fullest and take nothing for granted. Her friends and family will never forget all that Karen was. We carry her on in our hearts, and we must continue to spread her unconditional love and joy for life to the world around us. A memorial service to celebrate Karen’s life will be 2:00 p.m., Saturday, October 29, 2011 at the covered picnic area in Hooker Oak Park (1928 Manzanita Ave, Chico). Karen loved to take walks during her lunch breaks at this park. Hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be provided. Interment will be 12:00 noon, Sunday, October 30, 2011 at Etna Cemetery where she will be laid to rest with her parents and younger brother. Please leave memories of Karen or condolences for the family in the Guestbook below.