Jacqueline "Jacki" Diane Stephens
April 5, 1946 to July 4, 2022

Clute, Texas- Jacqueline "Jacki" Diane Stephens, 76, passed away July 4, 2022. A loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend, Jacki will be remembered for her beauty, zest for life, love of the beach and sunsets, and most importantly, for her devotion to family, friends and Christian faith.

Jacki was born on April 5, 1946, in Findlay, Ohio, to Olin Alvern Swander and Mary Katherine Sheldon Gann. At a young age she moved to the Rio Grande Valley and became a Texan. She was mother to four daughters, but also loved and nurtured a cherished collection of stepchildren, adopted children, grandchildren and all others that came with those. Jacki "Mimi" loved her family "As big as the sky, To the moon and back, and Forever and day" and no-one was excluded.

Early in her work life, Jacki worked for the safety of young children in the Social Welfare Department in Houston. When her children had grown and left home, Jacki went back to college to earn her master's degree in Marriage and Family Counseling. She held her therapist license and helped people for many years. Additionally, Jacki spent countless hours volunteering for the Crisis Hotline and other humanitarian organizations.

For the last years of her life, Jacki was a resident of Surfside, Texas, and enjoyed life to the fullest with friends that she made there. Jacki enjoyed reading, walking, sunsets, traveling and working in her business, The Wobbly Pot, creating pottery. Her sea-inspired work was sold at festivals and donated for fundraising at island charities.

Jacki is preceded in death by her parents Ollie Swander and Mary Gann and by her "heart dog" Bella, who we are certain met her just over the rainbow on the way to the gates of Heaven.

She is survived by her sisters, Joyce Perkins and Jan Gephart. Four daughters, Laura Warr (Brent), Deborah Meeks (Tim Soldat), Shannon January (John) and Stephanie Gwalchmai (Jeremy). Fourteen grandchildren, Emma Warr, Noah Warr, Krystal Chapa (Adrian), Justin Buchen, Megan Buchen, Trevor January (Samantha), Connor January, Dylan Hale (Ashley), Brianna Perez (Daniel), Mia Montoya, Grady Gwalchmai, Ella Gwalchmai, and nine Great-grandchildren.

Children and grandchildren in heart, Sidney Domian, Tres Domian, Daniel Domian, Thomas Domian, Michelle Putnik, Brady Putnik, Hudson Putnik, Lisa Stephens, Scott Stephens, Zoe Stephens, Joe Stephens, Michael Stephens, Kelly Stephens, Steve Meeks, Jourdan Garcia, Justin Gwalchmai, Andrew Soldat.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Surfside Beach on Thursday, July 14 at 6:30.

In lieu of flowers the family would like to raise awareness of heart health and ask that donations be made to the American Heart Association.

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