Jennie "Jackie" Marie Gray Preston
Jackie Preston
AKA KNOWN BY EVERYONE SHE MET
“GRANDMA JACKIE”
September 21, 1930 ~ November 10, 2016
Jackie Preston, age 86, passed away peacefully in her sleep on November 10, 2016 at the Beehive Home in Naples, Utah.
Jackie was born in Aladdin, Wyoming on September 21, 1930. She married Gayle Preston on January 4, 1948 in Shoshoni, Wyoming. She was the oldest child of George and Elda Gray. She had four brothers and one sister. Gayle and Jackie had three children, Butch, Charlene and Carol.
She attended high school in Aladdin, Wyoming to the 11th grade at which time her family moved to Riverton, Wyoming. Gayle and Jackie were married for only three short days before he was deployed overseas in the army.
Gayle and Jackie moved several times, living in many states e.g. Montana, North Dakota and numerous cities in Wyoming. Gayle was in the oilfield and when he said they were moving she packed up and off they went. She worked as a waitress and took care of their three children in every town they moved to. When they moved to Big Piney, Wyoming, they decided to raise their three children in a small town, so no more moving with the oilfield. Jackie started to wait tables for extra income until one day they decided to purchase a little drive-in in Mableton, Wyoming. They named it Jackie’s Chick N Straw, which was the most popular drive-in in town. They sold that drive-in, built a new one and decided they were ready for a bigger adventure, so they bought a restaurant. That started Jackie’s Café. Jackie worked long and hard hours every day of the week. The only time the Café was closed was Christmas and you still could see her down there cleaning. The oilfield companies would call her and ask to open the Café up early sometimes as early as 2:00 A.M. for their employees and she never said no. She was famous for her sweet rolls, pies, dinner rolls, daily specials, sack lunches and Mexican food. Her good cooking and service were special qualities people saw in her. She could cook anything and up to the time of her passing was still telling her daughter how to cook certain recipes. Jackie and Gayle moved to Roosevelt in 1973. She went to work cooking for Steve’s Café, later purchasing the Western Hills Café and Motel. She still worked every day from sun up to sun down until her health was too bad to carry on. She then went to work for Sprouse-Reitz, until she moved to Vernal.
She is going to be deeply missed but never forgotten. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Gayle, four brothers, daughter, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter. She is survived by two children: Butch (Karen) Preston of Vernal, Charlene (Bo) Sherman of Roosevelt; three grandchildren: Jeff Preston, Ogden, Utah; Jenny Yack, Vernal, Utah; and Kristy Jaramillo of Roosevelt, Utah;
16 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild; a very close friend, Kathy Felter; sister, Carrie Bernatow of Laramie, Wyoming, and numerous nieces and nephews. She loved you all.
The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to the Beehive House in Naples and all the staff for taking such wonderful care of our mom. We would like also to thank Ashley Valley Funeral Home, Jake Phillips and his staff. You were wonderful to work with. Thank you to Dr. Shurtliff, Dr. White, the hospice team of doctors and nurses, Uintah Care Center and Physical Therapy Department for the tremendous care and everything you did for our mother.
She will be missed but never forgotten.
She was so loved and will be forever.
You are hurting no more Mom. Take your wings and fly home. We will see you again. Online condolences may be shared at www.AshleyValleyFuneralHome.com.
