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Peggy Hooper Jackson, born March 1, 1934, died on Saturday, October 23, 2010 at her home in Albuquerque. The daughter of the late Clovis contractor Eual Hooper and Pearl Rutledge Hooper, Peggy was born on a farm west of Clovis, New Mexico near the community of Grier. She grew up in Clovis where she graduated from high school. She attended the University of New Mexico where she received a BA in Art Education in 1956, becoming an art teacher at Monroe Jr. High School. She was a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority. Peggy married David Jackson from Gallup in June 1957 when he returned from service in the US Army. She is survived by her husband; and three daughters, Laurel Jackson and husband Chris Rogers, Kim Jackson and daughter Alazan Flores, and Melissa Stock and husband Dan and children Hailey and Carson. Peggy always wanted to be an artist, starting with mail order art classes while she lived on a farm. On her honeymoon summer in Silver City, she continued painting and doing art projects (one of which still hangs in her home) and her family began to understand how serious she was about her art. And how talented she was! In her early married life Dave and Peggy moved around, living in Silver City, Albuquerque, Amarillo and Santa Fe, where their first two daughters were born. Santa Fe is a great place for artists to find inspiration and Peggy did. She worked on her paintings and on several projects such as Katchina Puppets and an Indian Medicine Man Kit that she placed in stores in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. She was chosen as the New Mexico Magazine artist of the month for her katchina puppets! In 1964 Dave got a job at New Mexico Tech and the family moved to Socorro where their third daughter was born. It turned out that Socorro was a good place for art and Peggy took art classes at the college and painted with a good friend who was an artist in residence at NMT. Her paintings continued to improve and she was able to go to participate in art events in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. She eventually opened a small art gallery and crafts shop in an old hacienda that was located just off the Socorro Plaza. One of the first artists who hung a painting was a friend named Wilson Hurley. The family enjoyed living in Socorro. She began to develop her own style and pallet. But, everything considered, Peggy was limited in her art. She needed more of a challenge. And that challenge was provided when Dave accepted a job offer with the Atomic Energy Commission and they moved to Las Vegas, Nevada. Wow what a change! From the quiet environment of a small college and farming town to the live entertainment capital of the world. She made good friends there, many of whom were artists, and Peggy was off and running. She became a member of the Las Vegas Art League and began taking and teaching courses. As the girls got older, she eventually went to places like Asilimar, California and Colima, Mexico to paint. And her art began to win awards and sell. Their home became an art gallery - constantly changing as shows came and paintings sold. It was a cacophony of color and design, of change and innovation, work in progress and by artist friends. It was figurines, pottery, candle sticks, weavings, Navajo rugs, photographs - all of which had a special place (which changed from time to time.) And flowers. She loved flowers, growing and painting them. The yard and home was a constantly changing garden and flower display, all placed in a location where their color was highlighted. As the girls finished high school and went on to college, Peggy and Dave decided they had been away from New Mexico long enough. An opportunity came to be transferred to Albuquerque and they moved. At last Peggy was in the art environment that she craved. She developed new artist friends and became a Signature Member of the New Mexico Watercolor Society. Her art continued to improve. Today, she is still well known for her paintings. She painted in Mexico, England, Finland, Russia and Greece. She taught art to adults and children at several schools including at Laguna Pueblo. Every day when she got out of bed she was thinking about art: what to paint, where to show, what to show. Her house is still an art gallery, not only of Peggy's paintings but of many other artists' works. She has been accepted at many juried shows, and her paintings are displayed all over Albuquerque in many public and private collections. She had seven paintings accepted by the New Mexico 1 % for the Arts Program that are hanging in public buildings all over New Mexico.) She was a devoted and beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She will be missed by her family and her many friends and painting companions. The Family wishes to extend our thanks and gratitude to the many friends and care givers from Home Instead Senior Care, Brookdale Senior Living, Zia Hospice and Ercy and Dora -- all of whom made it possible for the end of Peggy's life to be filled with dignity and love. A Memorial for Peggy will be held at a later time. Her ashes will be scattered over New Mexico areas she loved to paint. Arrangements by Direct Funeral Services, 2919 4th St, NW, Abq, NM 87107. 505-343-8008.
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