Shirley Jacocks

5/21/2018

 
Shirley Ann Gassen Jacocks
November 1, 1932 - May 21, 2018
 
Shirley Ann Gassen Jacocks a resident of Hammond, Louisiana, passed away at the age of 85 on May 21, 2018. Shirley was born on November 1, 1932 in Sulphur, Louisiana to Lionel J. “Kitty” Gassen, Sr. and Luna Mae Barron Gassen.  She spent her childhood in Sulphur with her older brother, Bub and her younger sister, MaryLou, always living close to her “Big Momo”, Marie Bodin Gassen. 
 
Shirley graduated from Sulphur High School in 1951 where she participated as a cheerleader, basketball player and editor of the school’s newspaper. She attended Centenary College receiving a B.S. in 1955. While at college, she met Ken Jacocks whom she married on August 9, 1953. 
 
Being the wife of a Methodist minister, she moved frequently with her husband and four children. The family resided in New Orleans, Greenwell Springs, Pearl River, Monroe, Houston (TX), and Hammond.  While in Houston, she was Director of Yale Street Daycare through the VOA. She also lived in Gonzales and LaPlace helping her husband serve Methodist churches after her children were grown.
 
In 1982, she received a Masters of Education at SLU.  Before retirement in 1995, Shirley was a beloved elementary school teacher for 28 years. The last 20 years of her teaching career, she spent as a kindergarten teacher at Mooney Avenue in Hammond and St. Amant Elementary in St Amant.  She was a supervisor for student teachers through SLU in Hammond.  Shirley was an active member of the United Methodist Women organization. 
 
She is survived by her sister, Mary Lou Gassen Blakeman of Monroe; daughter, Sharon Jacocks Parrott (Dickie) of Kemah, Texas; son, William M. Jacocks, Jr.(Wendy) of Geismer, Louisiana; son, Dr. Matthew J. Jacocks, of New Orleans; son, James W. “Wes” Jacocks, of Hammond; grandchildren, William “Ken” Jacocks III, Anne Alford (Sammy), Woodrow J. Jacocks (Ashley), Piper G. Jacocks, Travis J. Parrott; great grandchildren, Louis Walker, Dorien Alford, Clayton Jacocks, Skyler Alford, William Walker, Hayden Walker, Edward Jacocks, Lucas Jacocks; sister-in-law, Carrie Gassen; nephews, Michael Gassen, Jeff Blakeman; nieces, Vicki Magee, Jennifer Blakeman, Julie Blakeman.  She is preceded in death by her grandmother, Marie Bodin Gassen;, her parents; brother, Lionel “Bub” Gassen, Jr.; her husband, Rev. William McKendry “Ken” Jacocks; and sister-in-law, Paula Mixon Gassen.
 
The family is very thankful to the staff at Heritage Healthcare in Hammond, Louisiana for caring for Shirley the three years before her death due to complications of PSP.
 
A celebration of Life was held on May 26 at First United Methodist Church, Hammond with Methodist minister, Rev. Veronica Pritchard of Coila, Misissippi officiating.  Shirley was buried next to her husband, Rev. William McKendry Jacocks at Rosewood Cemetery in Hammond, Louisiana.
 
Before her death, Shirley requested that donations be made to the United Methodist Foundation of Louisiana (Jacocks Scholarship Fund), 8337 Jefferson Hwy., Baton Rouge, LA, 70809 or the Choir Fund at First United Methodist Church of Hammond, 2200 Rue Denise, Hammond, LA, 70403.