BETTIE L. JACKSON, age 83, Floral City & Crystal River, FL, died November 28, 2014 surrounded by her family in Crystal River, and under the care of Hospice of Citrus County. Bettie was born on January 19, 1931 in Campbellsburg, IN to the late Nathan and Mabel (Colglazier) Brown and relocated to Florida in 1978 from Muncie, IN. With her late husband Glenn she owned and operated four mobile home parks in Indiana and Florida since 1967. In 1986 they moved to Floral City to help her daughter and son in law run Moonrise Resort. Bettie moved 20 times in 20 years along with her husband and family working road construction for her husband’s family business, Ralph Myers Construction Company in Salem Indiana. They worked throughout Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky and Pennsylvania building interstates and dams. Bettie was a homemaker for her first 20 years of marriage and then started working when they bought their first mobile home park. Bettie helped run the mobile home parks by doing clerical work, cleaning, painting, and anything that needed to be done. She was not afraid of work. She taught herself how to upholster furniture and was a self-taught bookkeeper and tax preparer for the business. Bettie enjoyed square dancing, traveling and new adventures. Bettie also loved to read, sew and quilt. She made all of her square dance dresses that matched Glenn’s outfits. When she took up quilting, she would sew for 14 hours a day. She made all of the bedspreads for the cabins at Moonrise Resort, and for every member in her family. She loved to fish, eat out and was thrilled to ride with her husband on their three wheel trike motorcycle. They traveled to Alaska and back in their motor home along with their son Steve. She was always a joy to be around, and never met a stranger. She loved to talk and visit with friends and family, often offering her advice on life’s problems. She was always a joy to be around. She had a big heart and was always willing to give. She was the caregiver to her mother in law and her father for six years each. Even as her health declined, she did not want to miss going out to a restaurant to eat, as long as she could get in the car. She was a member of the Smedley Church of Christ in Salem IN. Left to cherish her memory is her daughter and son-in-law, Sue Ellen and Michael Friddle, Crystal River, FL, grandchildren Michael Jackson(wife-Stefanie); Stephanie English (husband-Gilbert); Jessica Rench (husband- Anthony) and daughter-in-laws Linda and Cindy Jackson: Great grandchildren Devon, Dillon and Darian Jackson; Grant, Kelsie, Melinda and Gavin English; Cooper and Myles Rench, all of Muncie IN. Nephew, Jim (wife-Sheila) Salkeld, Orleans, IN, and niece, Trisha Salkeld, Sun Lakes, AZ. In addition to her husband of 61 years, Glenn H. Jackson, she was preceded in death by sons Steven H. Jackson in 2002 and Michael G. Jackson and a grandson, Lance Jackson in 2007. A very special recognition goes out for Bettie’s caregivers for the last nine months to Clarice Neiswonger and Linda Steve. They are both very special people with huge hearts that cared deeply for Bettie. They made Sue Ellen’s life so much easier by helping with Bettie’s care. Private arrangements are under the care of Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home with Crematory. A celebration of life will be held at Moonrise Resort’s Rec Hall on December 6th at noon. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested in her memory to Family Resource Center, 2435 N. Florida Avenue, Hernando, FL 34442
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