COLUMBUS
Our beautiful mother, Ollie Jackson, passed away peacefully in her sleep on June 13, 2023. Her sparkling blue eyes, determined spirit, hard-earned wisdom and kindness she shared with her family and others will remain steadfast in our hearts. She was preceded in death and now reunited with the love of her life and beloved husband, Dean Jackson (deceased February 16, 2016). We imagine the two of them at long last together again, sitting side by side free from the worries and pain of this world, sharing their joy, laughter and, as in life, an unbreakable bond.
Ollie Brown married Dean Jackson August 12, 1956 ,at Old Union Church in Williams, Indiana. They moved soon after where they grew and nurtured their love, lives, family and lifelong friendships in Columbus, Indiana. ~1974, the never-afraid-of-hard-work duo (a hesitant Ollie and risk taker Dean) became proprietors of Deano’s Grocery in Ogilville, Indiana. Ollie served her daily specials of Gom, Chili, pistachio salad, and other home cooked delights for the lunch crowds sometimes lined up from the meat counter and out the door.
Ollie was blessed to be born into a big hardworking family in southern Indiana. Her parents, Oatley and Ruth (Wagner) Brown, raised 9 children – 5 girls (Montzella, Regina, Ollie, Ellen, and Edna) and 4 boys (Roy, Charles, Warren and Kenneth). Building the beginning of their lives Lawrence County Indiana, the Brown Family were rich in life’s treasures that are not measured by money or fame. Ollie and her siblings were all ‘doers’ driven by determination and perseverance. Their lives were filled with some tough times but grit, perseverance, singing, laughter and love of family and belief in God always sustained them. Ollie was an excellent seamstress, a phenomenal cook, meticulous quilter, gifted gardener, and the best mother bar none ever in the whole world! She will remain our guiding light and will forever be in our hearts.
Ollie was preceded in death by her husband Dean Jackson, son-in-law Dan Perry, brothers Roy, Charlie, Warren and Kenneth Brown, sisters Montzella and Regina Brown, brothers-in-law Tunnis Paul, Cloyce, Wilford, and Gary Jackson, John Stroud, Jerry George, Jim Rainey and Aaron Lawson, sisters-in-law Pat Jackson, Dora Bee Knight, and “Billie” and Betty Brown.
Ollie is survived by Deana (Jackson) Perry, Jami (Jackson) and Ron Koenig, and Kent and Gloria Jackson, Grandchildren Ryan, Paige (Perry) and Erin Brown and Sarah (Perry) and Glendon Cox, Eli and Mckenna Jackson and Emma Jackson, and Great Grandchildren, Ella and Avery Brown and Ava and Grayson Cox who will carry on Ollie’s legacy with the strength, love and kindness that she exemplified in life. Ollie is survived also by her sisters “The Brown Girls”, Ellen (Brown) George and Edna (Brown) Rainey and by sisters-in-laws Myra Lee Shipman, Jewell Sweeney and Carole Brown and finally by sooo many nieces and nephews and their children and their children’s children to list in this record.
The funeral will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. Friday at Barkes, Weaver &Glick Funeral Home on Washington Street.
A time of visitation for family and friends will be from 11:00 a.m. to time of service.
She will be laid to rest next to her husband at Flat Rock Baptist Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, those that wish to send a memorial contribution can be made to Our Hospice of South Central Indiana.
Online condolences and special memories may be shared with the family at barkesweaverglick.com
