Jacqueline Mayben

Jackie was born in Long Beach Hospital to John Leroy “Jack” Ashworth and LaRue Lorna Davis Ashworth, on February 11, 1934. A long story, a long life.

            Jackie’s Little sister Karen Dee was born a few years later, they both attended Long Beach schools before moving to Poplar, California. Jackie always recalled Jack being a wartime air-raid ‘warden’ and serving in the military at locations such as Kellogg Easton Canyon Astro Shop at Inyokern. She recalled the sirens and lights out status during possible enemy invasions, one when the Japanese apparently entered American waters. Everything was rationed, which set the tone for later in life.

            They moved to Poplar California in their early teens where they attended Poplar secondary schools. Jack and Uncle Joe started a grocery store in Woodville called Joe Jacks, Woodville Cash Store in downtown Woodville. They later built onto the location, saving pennies literally to build the stock to sell. Uncle Joe eventually moved to Placer county. About 1960, Jack and LaRue saved their earnings to build a new store a block west with their hard earned and saved cash. It was called LaRue’s Shopping center. 

            Jackie and Karen went to Porterville High, ‘El Granito’, and both later attended college. Jackie excelled in bookkeeping, and later worked a career as such.  

            Jackie married William R “Bill” Clark, and he adopted Jackie’s firstborn, Nicholas Vernon “Nick” as his son. They lived in Porterville, then moved to Visalia for Bill's work. They bought a “Dream Home” on Peach Drive in Exeter shortly after Marvin’s birth in Visalia during the “Flood of ‘55”. They had 3 boys, Marvin, Perry, and Andrew, “Andy”. She never got ‘her girl’.

            Jackie worked on and off for about 20 years as a bookkeeper at Exeter Citrus Assn, a Sunkist packing house in Exeter. Jackie also worked at the Exeter Chamber of Commerce, and Whitey’s Jolly Cone, and later at Henry Mill Ford between periods at Exeter Citrus. She also excelled at Tax Prep for several seasons. 

            Jackie later married Jerry Dan Goff Sr. He was partners in and later bought Jerry’s Arco on Kaweah, where Jackie worked also. Jerry had 3 children in that mix, Debbie, Linda, and Danny. He tragically lost Danny and Linda in the 70’s. Nick also passed in that period of time, it was tough. 

           Nick had married Billy Owsley of Farmersville, they had a daughter Amber, before his death. Amber married Shawn Parker of Farmersville area. They later moved to a home they built in Exeter on Belmont. Jackie later bought a lot there and she helped design and built a home there.

           Perry married Michelle Clark, they had Sara Hope (Pivas), and Bryce. They later moved to Buxton Maine, where Perry worked and continued his amazing art work. Perry later met and was engaged to Sandi Pelletier. He passed during Covid.

            After leaving Exeter, Jackie bought a trailer on Hogback near Badger. She designed and built a home on the ridge there. She then married Henry Mayben. They enjoyed coon dog hunting bear, racoons, etc. and in the Whittaker forest area and other places. Henry then tanned animal hides. When she wasn’t in his truck, she could be heard as she followed the ‘dogs’ and Henry on CB Radio. ‘Come in Bear, this is Honey Bear, come back!’. She knew the roads and logging trails as good as anyone and had maps of the entire area.

            Jackie tired of the drive to work at Exeter Citrus and dreadfully sold the Badger house and bought a house on Acres in Exeter. She then bought the lot on Belmont and built and lived there with her dog Hank, among the many others, until age caught up.

            She resided at Sequoia Transitional Care in Porterville until dementia took her best, the facility all knew her well as she didn’t slow until falls and breaks caught up. She passed on Friday, February 13, two days after her 92nd birthday.

            Jackie is preceded in death by her mom and dad, Jack and LaRue, Uncle “Mike” Miles George Davis, WWII Army Vet, and her first son Nick Clark, and Perry Clark. Also by husbands Henry, and Jerry, Sister Karen Pierson, Jody Nan Pierson Woods, and Monty Pierson.

            She is survived by Amber (Nick) and Shawn Parker, and great grandchildren Boss and Micah of Cove, Oregon, and several great great grandkids there. Also, Marvin, Sally (Stiltz), Calvin, James, and Carlee (Branco), and Sophia and James Robert Elliott of Hanford, and Granddaughter Nora Baker Elliott. Andrew, 'A.W.' Clark married Regina Stepp, and had a daughter Tori Thompson, and her brother Brooke, and later great grandson Asher. He later married Stephanie Callahan and had a daughter Lacey. Perry is survived by Sara Clark Pivas and Bryce Clark of Maine.

            Jackie did not want a service, and wanted to be cremated. She loved poppies but they were short lived because of the unseasonable heat. Family will gather near Badger to say goodbye.

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