Maryanne Pearl Jackson Cluff passed away peacefully on January 22, 2019. She was 90 years old. She was born on May 11, 1928, in Birmingham, Alabama.
She was born to Henry Cushing Jackson and Gladys Mary Johnson, the sixth of ten children, six brothers and three sisters. Born just before the Great Depression, their family lost everything, thus they moved to Indiana when mom was three, then to Kingfisher, Oklahoma. There they stayed until mom was 13, and then moved to Glendale, California.
Mother hated winter, so California suited her just fine. She finished high school at Glendale High, attended Glendale City College. This was fortunate for us her children, for she met our Father there.
They met at a band class, Dad played the string bass, and tuba. Mom was the drummer. In later years when she was teaching her youngest to play the drums, her comment was: You will not be a drummer, they just make noise.
You will be a percussionist, they make music! ” Mom was also the drum majorette for her school. She loved music, both she and dad.
They made sure there was always music in the home. Dad and Mom loved to share the story, that their first date was 13 hours long. Their school band was to go to a game in another city, and they took a bus.
It was several hours to and from. They sat in the back together so they could snuggle and kiss”. Dad knew he wanted mom, she knew at first sight.
As the years have born out, they were meant for each other. They loved to dance as well, on their first dance together, the song, “Moonlight Serenade” was the first they danced too. For dad, she fit perfectly, mom agreed.
They dated for two years, as both sets of parents said they were too young. So, when they both turned 19, they got married in the Presbyterian Church in Glendale, CA on April 30, 1948. Later they were sealed in the Mesa, Arizona Temple, on March 21, 1951.
Maryanne and Woody became the parents to six children; Lynn Earl Cluff (Joene), Curt Dana Cluff (Diana), Rex Aaron Cluff (Julie), Terry Gayleen Cluff (Van Johnston), Ken Alden Cluff (Frankie), and Eric Reid Cluff (Joan). They had two more who died after birth, Traci Lanae Cluff and Mark Andrew Cluff. Mom became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, not long after she was married.
She had a strong testimony that never wavered. She held many different callings, but music was her favorite. She sang in choirs and directed others, both adult and children.
One of her most challenging was a Stake Camp director in California. She wasn’t overly fond of camping, but she believed in the program. So, she did her utmost to dedicate herself to help the young women in the program to become certified.
We spent every summer going camping in order to find suitable camp sites, both for the young women and young men. Dad was involved in the scouting program at the time. We as children thought it all a grand adventure, but mom and dad took it seriously.
As they also took seriously the raising of their six children. We always knew mom loved us and cared about us as individuals and as a group. We always had her support and Dads.
We didn’t always know how much of a sacrifice they made for us, but we learned as we grew up. She hoed a long and tough road, but in the end, we served her. We love you Mom, till we meet again, rest in Peace.
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