Jackee Benson Haslam, 79, of Logan died Monday, August 6, 2007, of natural causes, surrounded by her cherished and loving family.
She was born March 16, 1928, in Manila, Utah, to Milton G. and Otey Lewis Benson and spent the early years of her life on the family ranch, “Buckboard,” in northeastern Utah. She graduated from South Cache High School and later married her sweetheart and eternal companion, Raymond M. Haslam, on March 21, 1947, in the Logan Temple.
Her entire life was focused on and dedicated to her family and serving others, and her family, friends, and neighbors were the beneficiaries of her unbounded love and matchless charity toward others. Her unique and unending ability to sense and perceive the needs of others and to fill those needs with love and compassion was a hallmark of her life and legacy.
Her home always was one where all who entered felt warm, welcomed, and loved. Her loving heart and caring hands were well known for seeing and filling the needs of others through countless meals provided, transportation furnished, a listening ear or soft shoulder offered, and services rendered.
During her 23 years as Accounts Payable Administrative Assistant for the Logan City School District, those with whom she worked also were warmed and blessed by her gentle, loving spirit and came to know, firsthand, of her kind heart and extraordinary capacity for service. She also volunteered at Hillcrest Elementary School for more than five years, reading to and tutoring young students there.
She was a lady, beautiful and elegant, who blessed the lives of many with her singing, which she loved to do. She also loved nature and took special care of her flowers and the hummingbirds that were frequent visitors to her backyard feeders.
She was a lifelong, faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many callings throughout her life, including Young Women’s President, Relief Society, stake music director, and, perhaps her favorite, Junior Sunday School Chorister, where her smile, caring nature and loving dedication blessed the lives of countless children. Also very dear to her heart, she served, alongside her husband, as an officiator in the Logan Temple for 10 years.
She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Reed Benson and Clay Benson, and two sisters, Gladys Benson Briggs and Helen Benson Tanner.
She is survived by her husband, Ray, and four children, Craig (Sue) Haslam of Ogden, Kevin (Kristie) Haslam of North Logan, Mark (Lisa) Haslam of Salt Lake City, and Shelli (Dean) Hunger of Kaysville. She also is survived by 16 loving grandchildren and 14 cherished great-grandchildren, as well as two brothers, Homer Benson and Karl Benson of Orem, and two sisters, Penny (Cordell) Jensen of Brigham City and Marilyn Hodges of Salt Lake City.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, August 10, at the Hillcrest 2nd Ward chapel, 875 North 1500 East, in Logan. Family and friends may call at Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 E. Center Street, on Thursday evening from 6 to 8 p.m., and on Friday at the Hillcrest Ward chapel, prior to the funeral, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Interment will be in the Logan City Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at
www.allenmortuaries.net
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Jackee’s name to the Utah Hemophilia Foundation and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.