Jackie Mitchell Masters

Jackie Mitchell West was born in 1931 during the Great Depression. She and her twin sister Johnnie were the youngest of five children (all girls) and defied conventions by tumbling and doing cartwheels when that behavior was considered unladylike. They became high school cheerleaders and star basketball players on a team that won the state championship. It was the beginning of Jackie's life-long love of sports, especially college basketball and football. She even dabbled in auto racing by driving in a power-puff derby in her hometown of Livingston, Tennessee. 

She was baptized in 1947 at the First Baptist Church in Livingston by Reverend Geiger. Seven years later she married Morrison Masters who grew up in the Hilham area. Married life took her across the country to Silver City, New Mexico, and Huntsville, AL, until she and Morrison moved back to Tennessee in the 1950's. During a brief stint in Tullahoma, they welcomed their first daughter Robin. The family settled in Oak Ridge and grew with the addition of three more daughters - Kim, Jill and Audrey. 

Jackie was an expert seamstress and sewed many clothes and costumes for her kids over the years. She spend countless hours driving them to activities and exposing them to music and art. She was also active in the church, where she directed the Christmas cantata and helped make the costumes for the nativity pageant. Jackie loved holidays and birthdays. There were always lots of decorations, treats, and gifts and fun traditions that she passed on to her children. Summers were full of flower gardens and vacation trips which often included Johnnie and her husband Dock. Jackie and her twin sister were like two peas in a pod- they so enjoyed being together and laughing about all the fun times they had. 

The 1980s bought heartache when Morrison passed away at the age of 63. Jackie never remarried but filled her life with old (and new) pastimes that she enjoyed. She read avidly and became a crossword wizard. She hiked up Mount LeConte and traveled far and wide, visiting all 50 states and touring Canada and Europe. At home, Jackie continued to tend to her beautiful flower beds and spent hours playing card games and board games with her kids and grandkids. They will tell you that she was a shrewd Spades player and hard-to-beat at Scrabble. She was super sharp and learned bridge in her older years. Jackie thoroughly enjoyed having people over for fun get-togethers revolving around those games. 

The loss of her twin sister in 1991 was a terrible blow, but Jackie managed to persevere. Her heart lightened as each of her six grandchildren arrived and expanded her close-knit family. "Nana," as they called her, loved collecting their photos and attending the numerous sports and events in which they participated. Her wanderlust took her on new journeys as she traveled widely with friends, neighbors, and family well into her seventies. This includes some memorable Spring Break trips that included three generations of her family. 

As her grandchildren grew up and started families of their own, Jackie's health problems kept her at home more of the time. She took up birdwatching, became an avid fan of the Atlanta Braves, and watched Duke basketball religiously. She learned to play mahjongg before it was cool and became an excellent player. She hosted an open house every year at Christmas and enjoyed visits from her great-grandchildren. 

She lived independently as long as she could, before moving to The Courtyards Senior Living facility in Oak Ridge. There she made many new friends, especially among the aides and nurses, whom she adored. We are so grateful that they returned Jackie's love and tended to her affectionately until she left her earthly body for glory land. We also appreciate the wonderful caregivers at Methodist Medical Center and Amedisys Hospice and others who showed her great compassion. 

Jackie is survived by four daughters: Robin Collier (John) of Mount Juliet, TN; Kim Evans (Weldon) of Woodstock, GA; Jill Pyle (Mike) of Corryton, TN; and Audrey Collins (Larry) of Oak Ridge, TN. Jackie's grandchildren are Ben Collier (Katherine), Lauren Collier McMaster (Mike), Dylan Pyle (Maurina), Blake Collins, Alivia Collins, and Austin Collins (Melissa). In addition there are 10 great-grandchildren along with numerous nieces and nephews and other family members. 

At Jackie's request, a private burial service for immediate family was held October 17. In loving memory of our mom Jackie Masters who gained her angel wings ... a celebration of life will be held on Saturday, November 8, 2025 between the hours of 6:30pm and 8:00pm at Mott-McKamey Funeral Home in Oak Ridge. We would be so honored for family and friends to join us. Jackie supported Saint Jude's Children's Hospital, and in lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to that charity in her memory. 

We are Jackie's four daughters, and we are thankful that we got to spend some 60+ years with our witty, wise, and feisty mom. She was young at heart, and that's how we will remember her, always.