Martha Jackson, a key figure in the construction of the Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Visitors Center in Litchfield, Illinois, died last week after an extended illness. She was 87.
Jackson had been in a nursing home in nearby Gillespie, Illinois. Her visitation and funeral will be next week.
Here’s the key excerpt from the obituary published in The Journal-News of nearby Hillsboro, Illinois:
In June of 2012, at the age of 80, having purchased land in the heart of Litchfield, Mrs. Jackson embarked upon building the Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center, with encouragement from her husband. The museum currently welcomes over 8,000 visitors annually. Until her health declined, she personally greeted guests, a last example of the selfless giving and dedication of this much beloved woman, to her friends in the community, and to the thousands of strangers who would be passing through.
Geoff Ladd, assistant director of the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway, weighed in during an email Tuesday:
“Simply put, there would not be a Litchfield Museum & Route 66 Welcome Center without Martha Jackson. She will be dearly missed.”
Jackson was an award-winning music teacher in Litchfield, Farmersville and other central Illinois school districts. She wrote or edited several books, including one about the history of Litchfield on its 125th anniversary.
Jackson is survived by a brother and his five children; a late brother’s two living children; and four stepchildren. She was preceded in death by two husbands, her parents, a brother and his son.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield (map here). A private family graveside service will be Wednesday, July 10, at St. Francois Memorial Park Cemetery in her native Bonne Terre, Missouri.
Memorials may be made in her name to the Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center at P.O. Box 43, Litchfield, IL 62056-0043.
(Image of Martha Jackson at the Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center via Geoff Ladd)
Eighty-seven years is a ripe old age. I hope that Life was a good journey for, on the whole and that she rests in peace. My condolences to her family.
Even more importantly, THANK YOU for your efforts on behalf of the Litchfield History Museum & Route 66 Welcome Center. I’ve visited there and it’s definitely one of the better small-town history museums. High quality displays and presentation.