Olivia Rangel Jackson was born on June 30, 1951 and started her journey home on December 8, 2020 at home surrounded by family. Spending her younger years in Whittier, she attend DQ University and UC Davis in Sacramento where she graduated with a BS in Early Childhood Development.

During her time at UC Davis she also met and married Eugene “Tincy” Jackson. Together they moved to Hoopa, where she took the position as director of the Head Start and Child Care program.

During her time in Hoopa she made lifelong friendships that she cherished, but her passion to help others took her on a new path to obtain her master’s degree in Psychology and Intern at UIHS with Dr. Royal Alsup Ph.D., as well as her marriage/family license. Together Olivia and Royal were the first two mental health personnel to work for an Indian health clinic.

Olivia devoted 40 years to helping the Native community. She helped start many native-driven healing groups while at UIHS, such as the POWER Teen Group and Women’s Purification Healing Ceremony/Sweats. She helped bring traditional healers to work with Native community. She did therapy and assisted in domestic violence training and cultural sensitivity, trained social workers for the county and foster care system, and workd on Indian child welfare issues. She devoted her life to helping children and healing families. Regardless of her own struggles or time of day, Olivia was always available for all who needed her. Her bright personality and unconditional love for those around her will be missed. Olivia’s passing is a huge loss to the community.

She enjoyed spending her time making memories with those she loved. She could often be found in the stands cheering her grandchildren on in sports or school events, or attending our local traditional dances. She cherished her weekly dinners and random adventures with her close friends Joy and Lisa Sundberg, as well as Tracy Crutchfield. She enjoyed her card-making parties with close friends Janice Dean Rollings and Liz Lara O’Rourke. She looked forward to her regular conversations with Rita McDonald, Anita Bussell and Kathy Stone, Walt/Callie Lara, Carol/Erik Larson, Sheri/ Ken King and John/Lena Ybarra.

Olivia is preceded in death by her husband Eugene “Tincy” Jackson, Daughter Mandy Jackson, Parents Paula P Rangel and Felipe R Rangel, Sister Gloria Y. Rangel and her mother-in-law Muriel Jackson. She was survived by her children Tara Jackson and Robby Jackson, her sister Irma D Rangel, brother Felipe Rangel. She was the proud Nana to Mikayla, Elijah, Caden, Casey, Andrew, Jarren, Janessa, Ava, Ruby and Muriel and great grandchildren Anastasia and Zayd, her god son John Ybarra Jr. as well as multiple nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Charlene Barnhart for all your hard work and dedication, and the nurses who helped care for her.

At the request of Olivia services will be held at the Trinidad Cemetery on August 21, 2021 at 1 p.m. with a potluck reception to follow at Azalea Hall in McKinleyville. Masks will be required and please practice social distance. If you have questions please contact her daughter, Tara.