Mrs. Jacquelyn “Jackie” S. Mannon, 75, a beloved resident of Abingdon, Illinois passed away peacefully surrounded by her family at 3:36 p.m. on Thursday, January 9, 2025. She was born January 25, 1949, in Chestnut Township, Knox County, Illinois the daughter of Elvin C. and Ruby D. (Martenson) Beck. She married Dwight E. Mannon on October 25, 1969, at the Christian Church in St. Augustine, Illinois. After 53 years of marriage, he preceded her in death.
Jackie graduated from Abingdon High School in 1967. She married Dwight in 1969 and began raising a family of her own.
Surviving are her three sons, Greg (Michele) of Wake Forest, North Carolina, Brad (Dedra) of Abingdon, and Jeff (Amber) of Washington, Illinois; two sisters, Joyce McCollum of Chicago and Janet (Dale) Malone of Galesburg. Jackie was grandma to seven amazing grandchildren, Grace, Annabelle, Jillian, Elin, Brinley, Kara, and Chase. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Dwight and her sister, Judith Beck.
Jackie worked for the Abingdon/Avon School District, first as a cook in the cafeteria but will be most remembered as a bus driver. She was one of the most loved school bus drivers for the district transporting special needs, sports teams, and scholastic bowl teams, retiring in 2015. Students fondly remembered her encouraging demeanor, their stops after sporting events for food, and families always felt safe knowing their child was in Jackie’s care. She was one of the biggest Abingdon Commando’s fans, attending many sporting events for her son and later on her grandchildren. She would cheer for all students from the 2nd string all the way up to the best athletes of the school. When not at a game, Jackie could be found at the local breakfast joints sipping coffee and chatting with everyone she knew. She was a skilled seamstress and had a love for sewing, assisting with school plays for many years at Abingdon schools. She had a love for animals where she had many dogs and cats throughout her life. Jackie could never turn away a stray, giving many animals a loving home throughout her life. She and Dwight were members of the Illinois Chapter of Goldwing Riders Region 3. Everybody was welcomed at “Jackie” “Nana’s” kitchen table, where there were many meals served, imparted life lessons, and stories told.
Visitation will be 4:00-7:00 pm Friday, January 17, 2025, at the Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Directors and Cremation Services Abingdon Chapel. Funeral service will be 10:30 am, Saturday January 18, 2025, at the chapel with Pastor Rick Warren officiating. Jackie will be buried next to her husband, Dwight, in the Abingdon Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the family, which will be donated to a charity, and should be addressed in care of Jeff Mannon. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.
