Remembering Jackie Brakey

Your mom was amazing! I Honestly dont have an exact memory but i know that everytime i got to talk to her she was always so kind and so complimentary, she always new how to brighten my day! Also everytime we would talk she always talked about how much she loves you and how much she cares about you and your furture. I know this is super hard, i cant comprehend how hard it is but i know its hard. Moments like this makes me so greatful for the love our Heavenly Father has for us. Because of your savior you will be able to be with your mom again. Im so greatful for the plan of salvation because it brings so much comfort. I love your mom and i am so terribly sorry, Honestly i dont have the words to express my feelings about this. Lean on your savior Jesus Christ during this time, he will pull you through completely, nothing else will. Please reach out if i can or my family can do anything.

Mama Brakey was an absolute gem of a person. She was the best team mom that clearfield football could ask for. Even though I was just a team manager, she was always checking in on me. She impacted my life more than she knew. It was nice to know that I had someone looking out for me.

What a joy it is to know her. She has been someone I've known for almost my whole life. She was always very supportive of not only her children, but her children's friends as well. I have the fondest of memories of her being upbeat and excited for us when she would be at sporting events, school events, or even hanging out over at her house. I look back and see how amazing and supportive she was to me after tough losses in sports and when i had seemed down because of whatever life had thrown at me. She was very honest with me about my dumb decisions, whether it be girls, pranks, or even school, but i was always better off for it. She knew what to say to brighten the mood and relieve stress when things got overwhelming. I loved constantly being in her house and her always asking how life was for me and asking for updates and genuinely checking up on me. She absolutely kept me in check in those things. She left an impact on my life and I love her lots for it. I look forward to the day when I get to say thank you face-to-face once again.

The support of my mom was unmatched whether it was team mom, driving all the way down to cedar to drop me off at college, graduation, paying for my graduation trip to Disney (dad also helped thank you) just being a mom that photo walking with my dad and mom at senior night though it’s a screen shot is a very special moment in my life, to planning banquets, making Halloween costumes (that Flynn rider costume was all her, to finally taking the time after games to take those photos of me and my friends together which are photos I cherish so much as those are some of my best friends Kaden, Hunter, Xander and honoral mentions to Ryan who shaved his head for my mom but couldn’t be in the photo and Shaun for shaving and Brayden for being the photographer cause that photo is one of the last ones I have of her cause she didn’t like being photographed after that but am so grateful for just how supportive she was, there was never anything I couldn’t do with her around


I know this is my second one but there are so many things to say about my mom I just want to share them with everyone she was that great I love her so much so I just want to share

Jackie was a force for good! She knew who she was and stood firm in her beliefs and opinions. She loved so deeply and gave the biggest hugs!! My dearest aunt Jackie!!! She mentored me through difficulties with a number of big things in my life, and I knew I could ask for advice and help whenever. I loved discussing books and politics and the gospel with her. I will hold the memories of us sitting on the cabin deck reading together close to my heart forever. I will think of her when I hear about Brandon Sanderson and when I hear the U of U alma mater song, because how did she know every word?!!?! I’ll miss her humor, her hugs, and her large and beautiful presence. I’m incredibly grateful for Jackie and the knowledge she will be guiding us from her throne in heaven.

Finding the courage to write something for this has been hard. I loved her so much. My mom was always my biggest supporter and always wanted me to do what I was passionate about and what made me happy. I mean she probably had me try every sport that was available. Soccer, basketball, gymnastics, ballet, pickleball, softball, baseball, all of the things. But the thing I really turned out loving was theatre, which probably didn't come as a surprise.

I still remember when I was in 5th grade, my elementary was doing Annie and I had worked up the courage to audition. Aparantly I did good enough to get a callback but little 5th grade me was TERRIFIED. I remember the day I was supposed to stay after school for it I went back to Tracee highams car (she was who was taking everyone home that day for carpool) and Tracee looked at me confused saying "Your mom said you had the callback today. What's up?". And I just broke down crying because I was so scared. So Tracee called my mom and I talked to her for a bit (maybe longer than a bit) and she helped me calm down and reassured me that I could do it and that the worse thing that could happen was that I didn't get a part,( which she said she didn't think would happen lol). I ended up going to that callback and I was cast as Annie. Even though covid stopped our performances I will always remember how if my mom wasn't there and hadn't encouraged me I would have never done it and who knows if I would still be doing theatre to this day without her.

That was the kind of mom and person Jackie Brakey was. She was always the biggest supporter of us kids and even people she had only met once. She always did everything she could to make sure all of us coul do what we wanted. It will be hard without her there to bring me down from my freak outs and to reassure me. But I know she always believed in me and wants me to fight and try for the things I want.

I will miss her so much. I'll especially miss her laugh that was incredibly contagious, her humor, her compassionate heart, her can do attitude, and how she always told things how it was. I don't know what I'll do without her advice and kind words.

I love you Mom, I hope you are at peace now and giving our heavenly father a big hug. ????

Jackie was my second mother. Every time she saw me she would give me the biggest hug, whether I wanted it or not. She always kept things real, like when she gave me the birds and the bees talk when I got my first boyfriend. She cared about me deeply and treated me like her own child. She has so much love in her, and I know it’s still coming down from heaven. She truly was one of the most beautiful souls.

There are thousands of memories that I cherish of my mom. One that I will never ever forget is when she was there for the birth of my daughter. We had planned the whole pregnancy to not have our moms there but made a Gametime decision that we would like to have them there. They were both rockstars. My mom was already so sick but she was hiding it well. She showed up at 7 am and held Drew’s hand, she offered encouragement, she held a warm cloth to her forehead, she sat with her when Lainey came out not breathing. She even showed us how to hold Lainey and changed her first diaper. It was by the grace of the almighty God that she was able to be a part of that day. It was soon after that that her health began to turn in a way that she couldn’t hide any more. One of the greatest joys of her last three months on this earth was to be a grandmother. I know it hurt her deeply that she couldn’t do all the things she wanted to do to support Drew but the influence she had on me will be a blessing to my children for many decades until we meet again.

Jackie has left sparkle everywhere! She flexed her diplomacy skills as the team parent for CHS football... seriously, nobody else could have come close to her approach during that run of unstable years. I've seen her laugh, showcase her wit, throw down the law when needed, and cry tenderly. In a really rough moment, she told me that she persevered with the football parent role only because she wanted CJ to know that she supported him, and that she would do anything for her children. I love Jackie like a sister and when I made her a green hat, she made sure to wear it so I knew she loved me back.

One of my first memories of Jackie is when she was doing singing time in Primary and Paige was in the class I was teaching and kept wanting to sit on my lap or hang onto me or something. She stopped teaching to tell Paige to stop. I remember being a little taken back by her direct instruction for Paige to not bug me. Haha. That direct, honest, unfiltered Jackie is something I loved about her! I knew she would always keep it real!
Jackie and I’s friendship grew the most during our 2 terms serving in young women’s. She sent me a text once that said, “Don't even worry, Kim. Our friendship was forged in the fires of young women's. It will survive/overcome/ transcend all things. :)”
We truly had the best times at camp! From participating in skits with the girls, to rolling our eyes from all the drama, to following the pee chart, making sure we knew each others hydration levels, to listening to her casually telling a story while braiding YW hair and naturally cussing without even realizing it in front of the girls and the Bishop! ???? I freaking love her! To trying to light the campfire with bug spray.
She was the best girls camp buddy!
Her testimony was rock solid. When I was teaching the YW and getting zero participation, I knew Jackie would have my back and bring the lesson to another level!
I admired Jackie in how she taught her children to love each other and treat one another with love and respect. I love how she interacted with my own children with sarcasm, honesty and love!
I am going to miss her dearly.
Love,
Kim Ricks ????