Margaret "Jerri" Niedzwiedz...Age 71

CREMATION

A VISITATION WILL BE HELD:

6-8pm FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015
EDDY-BIRCHARD FUNERAL HOME
203 MAIN
OSAWATOMIE, KANSAS.

A PRIVATE FAMILY BURIAL AT A LATER DATE

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Margaret Geraldine “Jerri” Niedzwiedz age 71, of rural Paola, Kansas died April 17, 2015 at Olathe Hospice House in Olathe, Kansas.

“Jerri” was born on January 29, 1944 in Thayer, Missouri the youngest of all her siblings to Herschel Earnest and Ardith Clementine (Harrison) Malone.

She grew up in many different cities and towns, as her father was a Union Carpenter by trade and followed the construction “booms” from place to place.She attended numerous schools during this time but did attended high school at Vinland Rural High School in Vinland, Kansas, a small community just south of Lawrence, Kansas.

Jerri married Ray Atkinson in their home town of Thayer, Missouri on June 4, 1960. They became the parents of two sons, Timothy Ray and Daniel Ray. The couple was married for sixteen years when they divorced in 1976.

Jerri moved to Osawatomie in 1985 and began working at the Osawatomie State Hospital shortly after she arrived. She worked as a psychiatric aide for many years until an injury at work forced her to stop. After several surgeries, hospital stays and rehabilitation it was clear she had a permanent disability.

Jerri married three more times during her lifetime the last being on May 17, 2007 when she married George D. Jackson in Miami, Oklahoma. The couple made their home in rural Paola, Kansas.

She was a wonderful mother and grandmother devoted to her two boys, becoming a grandmother was no different. She loved her grandchildren and enjoyed spending time with them. Jerri was always a “social” person and enjoyed going out and always loved a good party in her younger years.

She liked to read and was a woman who could cook up a great meal. But her true love was her dogs, two Jack Russell Terriers, Priscilla and Buddy. Jerri loved both her dogs, but Priscilla was her favorite.

She was a current member of the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary Post 156 of Paola, Kansas.

Jerri was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Bud Malone of Paola, Kansas, her sister, Jesse Ann Malone, and her brother Harry Joseph Malone.

Survivors include her husband George of the home, two sons Timothy “Tim” (Jennifer) Atkinson of Fort Worth, Texas and Daniel (Corinna) Atkinson of Mound City, Kansas. Three step-children: Sonya, Robert and Scott Jackson, one sister Betty Kiell of Lead Hill , Arkansas, three grandchildren: Zack Pederson of Okinawa, Japan, Clayton Atkinson of Lawrence, Kansas, Levi Atkinson of Overland Park, Kansas, two step-grandchildren: Millie and Henry Jones and one great granddaughter Riley Atkinson, along with many other family members and friends.

Her cremains will be buried along with the ashes of her beloved pet Priscilla in a private family service at a later date.