Mary Louise Jackson was born on Feb. 15, 1955, at McChord Air Force Base in Pierce County, Washington. She was the daughter of Charles and Genevieve Bennett.
Growing up with her family she had spent time in Italy, England and various Air Force bases across the United States.
When her father retired from the Air Force, she came to Lampasas where she graduated from Lampasas High School. She would spend the rest of her life in Lampasas.
She married Jeff Jackson on Oct. 2, 1976. Together they raised three children: Erin, Tim and Sam.
Mary Lou attended the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor at Belton where she graduated and became a teacher.
After receiving her teaching degree, she taught special education children at Lampasas Middle School and later at Hanna Springs Elementary School. She was dedicated to and spent long hours working at her chosen profession. She was awarded the Lamar Medal for her teaching skills. She retired in 2016.
Mary Lou enjoyed gardening, taking care of and being with her family. She enjoyed painting designs on beach stones and giving them to people who had influenced her life in some way.
The great tragedy of her life was the death of her daughter, Erin, in 2001 when she was a student at The University of Texas in Austin.
In recent years, Mary Lou had a survived a serious lung infection and a stroke.
Mary Lou died on April 11, 2026, at a hospital in Killeen as a result of a disease that came out of nowhere and took her life without warning.
She is survived by her husband, Jeff Jackson; sons Tim Jackson and Sam Jackson; brothers and sisters Stephen Bennett, Paula Bennett, Mark Bennett, Melody Bennett, Keith Bennett and Karen Mendo; and by a niece and two nephews, Amy Whitsett, Anthony Mendo and David Bennett.
A niece, Amanda Bennett, preceded her in death.
Services are pending at this time.
