Arlyse "Skippy" (Matthews) Jackson

Arlyse June Jackson, fondly known as Skippy, 91 of Deming, NM stepped into Heaven at the Mesilla Valley Hospice in Las Cruces, NM, with her children at her side, Saturday, March 20, 2021 after a short illness. 

Skippy was born at home Oct. 15, 1929 in Northome, Minnesota because they were snowed in, to Ollie Perry and Lucretia Elizabeth Matthews. She was the youngest of the four children in the home. Her family teased that she was the cause of the stock market crash in October of 1929. Skippy graduated from Deming High School in 1947. She married Arlis Lee Clayton of Deming and later married Richard L. Jackson of Deming. 

Skippy worked at the Deming telephone company and later for the City of Deming for 33 years, having a long career in the motor vehicle department licensing thousands of vehicles in Luna County. Even after retiring she continued to serve her community by volunteering in the gift shop at the Mimbres Memorial Hospital and as a docent at the Mimbres Museum for fourth graders, specializing in Mimbres Pottery. She was a sponsor for Al-Anon and was an excellent seamstress lovingly sewing anything from tiny Ginny doll clothes, to formals, to bench covers and everything in between. Her greatest accomplishment was being a mother to her 6 children as well as many others who called her mom. She would always have enough food so that no one left hungry no matter how many extras showed up at a meal. She loved to roller skate and roller dance and was always up for an adventure. There was not a roller coaster or carnival ride she would not get on.  Skippy also loved to experience new places. Highlights included several cruises and trips to Alaska, around Hawaii, a train ride through Canada and her last big trip with her brother to Norway where their mother was born. She loved to bowl, work in her yard and dote on her dogs. Her faith was especially important to her and sustained her through the many trials of her life. When approaching death, she stated she was not afraid because her Lord was with her.

Survivors include her children, Karen Clayton Bill (Michael), Laurie King, Matthew Jackson and Kimberly Jackson Garrison (Michael); her grandchildren, Paul Clayton, Rochelle Clayton-Cordova, Andrew Bill, Rebecca Hill, Christine Ritter, Wesley King, Amber Mersino, Lauren Vasquez, Johanna Barrett, Sarah Morgheim and Victoria Barrett; 17 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren. 

She is preceased by her parents, Ollie and Lucretia Matthews; 3 sisters, Olive, Muriel and Edna; a brother, Donald; 2 sons, Larry Clayton and Michael Jackson; son-in-law, Danny King and her former spouses.

She will be greatly missed by so many.

The family greatly appreciates the loving care Mom received at the Beehive in Deming and the Mountain View Hospital and Mesilla Valley Hospice in Las Cruces, NM.

A service and celebration of her life will be held at a later date.

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