Jackie Kingham died on Dec. 26 at the Davis Hospice Center in Cheyenne after a 20-year battle with dementia.
At 89 years old and in the late stages of dementia, her days were already growing short when the pandemic hit, but when she contracted the virus, she fought it and survived. However, that effort took so much of her waning strength and energy it accelerated her final decline.
She handled the frustrations, uncertainty and indignities of her deteriorating memory and cognitive abilities with humor and grace.
Jackie was born in Cheyenne on Aug. 15, 1931 to Edwin and Gertrude Taylor. She was a lifelong Cheyenne resident, graduating from St. Mary’s High School in 1949.
She married George Kingham in Cheyenne on June 17,1950, and together they raised two sons.
Jackie worked for 20 years as a school secretary at Clark, Pioneer Park and Deming-Miller elementary schools.
After retirement, Jackie and George traveled extensively, visiting most of the states and more than 40 countries. They wintered in Scottsdale, Ariz. for 16 years.
During her retirement she also delivered for Meals on Wheels and worked as a hospice volunteer.
Jackie is survived by sons Ed Kingham of Carson City, Nev., and Dave Kingham of Cheyenne, sisters Loretta Curtin of Ventura, Calif., and Teresa Tiller-Taylor of Maui, Hawaii, and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and her brother Donald Taylor of Pueblo, Colo.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial celebration will be planned for a future date when travel and gathering are safe again.