Jacqueline “Jackie” Ann Dow Underwood, 84, of Marysville, died peacefully Monday, Feb. 11, 2018, at her home at Narrow Acres.
An elementary school teacher, she began her career in 1963 in the Miami East School District near Dayton. For most of her career, she taught for the Marysville Exempted Village School District (MEVSD) at the Raymond and East elementary schools. Following her retirement, she was a tutor for the MEVSD and was influential in helping scores of students obtain GEDs and high school diplomas. She will be remembered as a highly dedicated and loyal educator.
She graduated from North Park High School in Chicago, received a Bachelor’s degree from Defiance College and a Master’s degree from the University of Dayton. While at Defiance College, she was a cheerleader and a member of the university choir and Greek Life. She was selected as the 1955 football homecoming queen. She and her late husband, Noel, hosted many college reunions at their homestead.
In recent years, she served as a manager’s assistant at the Marysville Municipal Swimming Pool. She was well respected in her role at the pool, but ironically, she had a dreadful fear of water and never learned to swim. She also enjoyed being a ticket taker at middle school sporting and community cultural events. For many years, she worked alongside her husband and children with their Narrow Acres truck farming business by planting, harvesting and selling sweet corn, tomatoes, melons and cucumbers. She had a special bond with her pets and animals on the farm. She was a 60-year member of First Presbyterian Church in Marysville.
She was born May 28, 1933, in Sanford, Maine, to the late Jasper E. Dow, who died when she was nine years old, and Ida Clark. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her step-father, Richard David Allen; husband of 60 years, Noel D. Underwood, whom she married June 9, 1956, in Defiance; grandson, Luke Scipione; and brother, Robert Dow.
She is survived by her children, Scott (Holly) Underwood, Toni (Chuck) Black and Rick (Kim) Underwood, all of Marysville, and Joni (Jay Thomas) Scipione of Pickerington; grandchildren, Laura (Adam) Goodwin, Caleb (Kristy) Black, Grant (Anthony Barroso) Underwood, Grace (Caleb) Sowers, Mallory Underwood, Tara Scipione, Angela (Brandon) Robinson, Chris (Jade) Backus and David (Sharon) Backus; great-grandchildren, Hayden, Colby, Karcyn, Kembyr, Heathyr, Morgan, Charlye, Amelia, Abigail, Sullivan, Troy, Danykha, Richard, Ryder, Rhett, Ava, Gracie, Layla, Versace, Aspen, Diamond, Cavonte, David Jr. and Charlie; sisters-in-law, Nadene Underwood of Cardington and Barbara Dow of Tonawanda, New York; nieces, Deby (Phil) LeFevre, Raima (Gale) Ritchie and Vena (Dave) Counts; nephew, Todd (Susie) Snyder; and many other relatives and friends, including Chuck (Diane) Scipione of Circleville and James Moats of Chesterfield.
Viewing hours will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Underwood Funeral Home. The Rev. John M. Groat will officiate funeral services after viewing hours Sunday at 4 p.m. Food and fellowship will follow the funeral service at the Marysville Elks Lodge. Interment will be held at Oakdale Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Union County Humane Society, Marysville Friends of the Library or Loving Care Hospice.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.underwoodfuneralhome.com.