Jacqueline Beard

Jacqueline Huff Beard

Jacqueline Lou “Jackie” Crook, 85, was born in Waco on December 30, 1935, to Jp Alton (Jack) Crook and Opal A. Peters. She was proud of her Waco roots and spoke of her childhood fondly. Jackie and sister Bettye sang at the Waco Hippodrome kiddie matinee and thrived under Mary Holiday’s leadership. Jackie attended La Vega, East Elementary, and Midway High School.

Jackie was known for her magnetic personality, singing talent, kindness, love, hugs, encouragement, and generous gift of giving of her time and talent. She will be deeply missed.

Jackie married her first love, Bruce Powell Huff, also a native of Waco on September 7, 1951, after he joined the U.S. Air Force at James Connally Air Force Base. She was a devoted military wife and traveled where the Air Force sent them. The family moved back to Waco after Bruce’s retirement in 1972.

In 2015, Golinda Baptist Church hosted a retirement party for Jackie’s 25+ years at American Bank and 10 years as the worship director at Golinda Baptist Church.

Jackie was preceded in death by her parents, Bruce Huff, Sr., John Alvin Beard, son Carl Alton Huff and wife, Karen Harkey Huff, sister Betty June McMullen, brothers Thomas White and David Alton Crook.

Jackie is survived by stepmother Betty Ross Crook, brothers Paul Alton Crook (Debra), Dana Crook (Rebecca), and sister-in-law, Cece White.

Children: Bruce Powell Huff, Jr. (Sherrell), Patti Huff Smith (Gary), Adrian Huff, Karen Huff Kloepper (Aaron).

Grandchildren: Emilee Huff Hodges (Chris), Brandon Huff, Crystal Stone (Stacy), Jordan Huff (Julie), Kristen Huff Palmer (Adam), Rachel Smith Mapenzi (Bryan), Erika Smith Aurzada (Andrew), Philip Smith, Nathan Smith, David Huff (Lila), Amanda Huff Edwards (Nathan), Joshua Huff (Jessica), Amber, and Nathan Kloepper and Kaitlyn.

Great-grandchildren: Grayson Hodges, Vera Huff, Emily, and Alysia Ray, Blair and Holden Huff, Cole and Makayla Palmer; Justin, Jason, Julianna, Jackson, and Jonathan Huff, Dylan Thomas, Ava Edwards, Michael, and Maddie.

Visitation will be held at Pecan Grove Funeral Home at 3124 N. Robinson Dr. in Waco on Friday, June 18, from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Memorial Service will be held at Pecan Grove on Saturday, June 19 at 11:00 a.m. Pastor Morgan Woodard will officiate, and soloist is Charlie Burch.

Interment will be at Oakwood Cemetery at 2124 South 5 th Street in Waco. A luncheon reception will follow at Golinda First Baptist Church, 7140 Golinda Dr. Lorena/Golinda (on Hwy 77).