Ruth was born on June 25, 1933 in Cerro Gordo, Illinois; her parents were Kathryn and Leo Reish.
Ruth attended Millikin University, in Decatur, Illinois, for two years, and was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. She transferred to University of Illinois for her final year of college.In 1955 she married James Jackson of Mt. Vernon, Illinois. They had three children, Nancy, Michelle Jackson-Keisling (Jack) and Barry (Libby). She also had three grandchildren, James Ryan Jackson, Megan Elizabeth Jackson Schmidt (Ryan), and Hayden Jackson Keisling, 5 step grandchildren, Kyran Keisling, Kiera Keisling, Collin Keisling, Jacob Keisling, and Megan Keisling Santos, plus two great-grandsons named Jeremiah Charles and Elijah Allen Schmidt. She was a loving mother and grandmother, and was thrilled to meet little Elijah over the Christmas holidays in 2022. Ruth was active in a variety of civic activities in Mt. Vernon over the years and supported her husband, Jim, in his role as District Governor of Rotary and his project of helping handicapped children from Central America come to the St. Louis Masonic Hospital for life-altering surgeries. She also worked part time at the family business, M.E. Jackson Jewelry for many years. Both Jim and Ruth were active members of the First Community Church for many years.
For the complete obituary, visit
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/ruth-jackson-obituary?id=40446913
