Individual Details

Margaret J. Jamison (1934 - 2017)
Margaret Jean Westmoreland Jamison, 82, longtime Pasadena resident, died early Sunday morning, May 7, 2017, of complications from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD). Margaret, or Jeannie as she was known to many in her family, was a 10 pound baby, born in Wilburton, Oklahoma on May 31, 1934, last child and fourth daughter of Mary Constance Folsom Westmoreland and Norbet "Topsy" Westmoreland. She never got much bigger. Her love of learning first flourished when her mother sent 5 year old Margaret to school with her 6 1/2 year old brother Norbet; she absorbed information so quickly that she skipped first grade. Margaret spent most of her formative years in Dayton, Texas, graduating as valedictorian of her 1951 high school class. She began working and taking college classes as she could. Margaret married the love of her life, Terrell Jamison, on December 2, 1955. Determined to make it through college, while raising two daughters and through multiple out-of-state moves to advance her husband's career, she graduated from the University of Houston in 1969 (the same year her older daughter Melinda graduated from high school) with a degree in French. Upon graduation, she received a scholarship to study in France at the University of Dijon, her first but certainly not last trip to her favorite country outside of the USA. She later went on to earn a Masters Degree in Education from UH Clear Lake. Margaret, or "Mama J" as she was known to some of her students, taught history and French at Pasadena High School for years. Under her helm, the state French contest grew from a small competition with ribbons for awards to an event with prizes of trips to France for both winning students and teachers. For her promotion of France and the French culture through education, she was awarded the highest honor bestowed on private citizens by the French government, the Palme D'Or, presented to her personally by the French Ambassador. She enjoyed teaching and loved her students-and they loved her. She received the first Teacher of the Year Award for the Pasadena Independent School District (PISD) and many other teaching recognitions over the years. Holding a key place in her heart were Marilyn Gansky Hunt (almost like another daughter from 1975 to the present) and the class of 1976, particularly John Cook, Martin Cominsky, David Plaisance, and Mark Repman. Leaving the classroom after 15 years, she served as the supervisor of foreign language and history for PISD until her retirement. She also served as President of the Pasadena Historical Society, completing necessary paperwork to have the Pomeroy house (now located near Pasadena High) designated a state historical landmark. With her expansive knowledge of history, Margaret was a delightful and entertaining travel partner. Thanks to the devotion of her daughter Melinda Lea, she continued traveling following her retirement. She enjoyed her last trip in 2015 - from the Normandy coast of France to Marseille - with Melinda, her younger daughter Kim Spigel and her granddaughter Rebecca Spigel. In addition to traveling, she loved to spend her time learning more, gardening, watching and reading true crime, doing crosswords and Words With Friends, drinking Starbucks coffee and marveling at the taught smoothness of Lynn Sakowitz Wyatt's skin in the newspaper society section photos, all in the constant company of her beloved dachshund Barkus. She was an enthusiastic season ticket holder of the Alley Theatre for over 25 years. Barkus, as well of the rest of us, loved her dearly and will miss her terribly. Margaret's parents, her husband Terrell and her sisters June, Betty Jo and Sherry predeceased her. In addition to Melinda, Kim, Rebecca and brother Norbet Westmoreland, Margaret is survived by her grandson Michael Lea, granddaughter Claire Spigel, son-in-law Jonathan Spigel and sister-in-law Ann Westmoreland, and many nieces and nephews. The family will be hosting a memorial service in the fellowship hall of First Presbyterian Church, 4647 Preston Ave, Pasadena, TX 77505, on Friday, May 12th from 1-4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the SPCA or your favorite animal charity as a tribute to Margaret, Barkus and the many dogs and cats she rescued.
Published on yourpasadenanews.com from May 8 to May 21, 2017

Facebook: Margaret Jamison
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Retired public school teacher/administrator, masters degree from UH

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Birth	31 May 1934	Wilburton, Latimer County, Oklahoma
Marriage	2 Dec 1955	Texas - Terrell Bruner Jamison
Residence	29 Oct 2007	Dayton, Liberty County, Texas
Death	7 May 2017	Pasadena, Harris County, Texas
Burial		Magnolia Park Cemetery, Dayton, Liberty County, Texas

Spouse	Terrell Bruner Jamison (1929 - 1978)
Child	Melinda Sherry Jamison (1951 - )
Child	Living

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