Jackie Coleen (Kastner) Stinnett was born October 5, 1936, in Humphrey, Oklahoma to Ruby Rollins and Hiram Kastner. She was welcomed by her older sister Daphene. As a Child she lived in the county on the farm that her dad rented and tended. She enjoyed riding her bicycle to visit her eight cousins one mile up the road. Jackie was baptized at age 7 and recalled getting the funny feeling that she needed to go forward, crying the whole way, and said she really understood and was ready at that young age. At age 12, her family moved to the big city of Altus where they then had running water and a washing machine and life seemed easier! At age 13, Steve was born, and she was tickled to death to have a baby brother. In high school she played the bass drum, twirled the baton in the marching band and worked at the Woolsworth store.
Jackie attended church with her parents and that is where she and Richard met. She laughingly recalled the “Air Force Boys” visiting churches to pick up ladies which turned into 63 years of marriage. She dated Richard during her junior year of high school while he was stationed in Altus, Oklahoma. Soon after he was discharged, he moved to Mt. Zion but wrote letters to her every day for a year. Jackie graduated high school in May of 1955 and spent that summer with her paternal grandparents where she cooked and cared for them per her daddy’s request. Richard soon after came to visit, took her home to meet his parents and they were married November 6, 1955. On their anniversary in 1958, Jackie gave birth to their first son, Richard Dale, and a few years later on July 23, 1964, she had Keith Phillip.
Jackie spent many years working outside the home, and she was very proud of her and Richard and their ownership of Stinnett Feed and Grain. She had one of the first business computers in Lowry City and had bought it from a young man. He set it up and taught her how to use it which changed the way they did business and made it possible for them to open their second location in Clinton. They retired after running the business for just shy of 20 years. During those same years, she spent many enjoyable hours “touring” with the Jubilee Singers. While they did perform at multiple county fairs and funerals, singing at the area churches was her favorite as she felt it to be much more personal and allowed for more engagement with the audience. She loved to share Jesus through song, but also did so by teaching Sunday School more years than she could count and by just being a good friend and neighbor to many. Jackie was very proud of her faith, her relationship with Jesus and with the two men that she was blessed to call her sons.
After retirement, Richard and Jackie enjoyed traveling through the United States and even took a Korean War Veteran Tour with a side trip to China which she recalls to be her favorite trip of all. She had a love for fall, the changing of the leaves, and the cooler weather, although she only liked it because that meant she could sit by the warm stove inside. She also enjoyed a trip through Utah seeing the leaves begin to change and they were the most beautiful shades of orange, and while pictures never did them justice, she couldn’t forget them in her mind and often they would be the inspiration of the fall scenes she painted.
While home or on the go, she enjoyed playing cards with her friends. She considered pitch to be her favorite and was quite good at winning! Jackie enjoyed time with her grandkids. She appreciated and expressed how she enjoyed the uniqueness of each one. She loved it when they came and “stayed a while” at her house. She also wasn’t afraid to take them on the road. The Gulf of Mexico and the Grand Canyon were a couple of loved destinations, along with many day trips to Elephant Rock, Johnson’s Shut-in, and Branson! Silver Dollar City was a family favorite, and many great memories were created there. As the grandkids grew, she enjoyed her opportunity to care for her great grand babies and spent many days caring for Meghan, JD, and even enjoyed some Branson trips with them. While her and Barbara Haverland shared grand kids and great grand kids, they also shared a special friendship, and they enjoyed many days together. On quiet days you could find Jackie reading, working on her needle point, painting or making jams and jellies. During her last few months of life, she was unable to remember much throughout the day, but found joy in reminiscing and sharing about the things shared above.
Jackie was preceded in death by her parents Hiram and Ruby Kastner, her husband Richard, and brothers-in-law Bob Hanna and Dave Lightle.
She is survived by her sons Richard Stinnet and wife Laurie and Keith Stinnett and wife Pam; seven grandchildren; Amber Keith and husband Christopher, Sarah Baker and husband Keith, Jordan Stinnett, Amanda Cooper, Lauren Denison and husband Jeremy, Keri Stinnett and Rilee Stinnett. Nine great-grandchildren; Meghan, Jephrey, NIC and JAK Keith, Kasen and Emma Baker, Raelynn Stinnett, Lane Cooper, Hesston and Hudson and baby Denison due in July; sister Daphne Hanna and brother Steve Kastner, sister-in-law Wilma Lightle, nieces, nephews, and many friends. She will be truly missed.
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