Gwendolyn Rae (Jackson) Gist

Gwen Gist, born Gwendolyn Rae Jackson, died August 12, 2017, suddenly at home in Brenham, Texas.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, August 19, 2017, at Carlsbad First Assembly of God, 1502 W. Mermod Street, Carlsbad, New Mexico, 88220.

Gwen was born February 8, 1955, in Carlsbad, New Mexico, to Loyd and Shirley Jackson. Gwen was a bright and head strong child who early on showed a penchant for rules and law. She was passionate and generous. She had a chronic diagnosis that was challenging but she managed it valiantly. She lived life fully and always seemed to have a sense that she was living on borrowed time.

While working and raising her only daughter, Kerri, she commuted 90 miles to obtain her first Bachelor Degree from Eastern New Mexico State University in Accounting. She passed the CPA exam on first attempt and worked as a CPA in Carlsbad. Apparently, she had always wanted to become an attorney. So, in 2002, she uprooted her life and went to Baylor School of Law, graduating with honors in 2004 with a Juris Doctorate. She passed the bar exam on first attempt also. She began her law career with Marek and Francis Law in Carlsbad, New Mexico. She took an opportunity moving to Hobbs, New Mexico where she was City Attorney for Hobbs before moving to a position as County Attorney for Lea County, New Mexico. Her career took her to become an Assistant DA for Fifth Judicial District with office in Hobbs, New Mexico. Recently, she decided to relocate and refocus her life into an area of law she always wanted to practice; wills, trusts, estates, and helping people get access to legal representation. Her firm, Gist Law, PLLC, was growing and she was working hard at it right up to her final day on earth. She was always happy she went to law school without letting age or disease stop her. She loved what she was doing and she was very good at it.

She was loved by many people and leaves a large and loving family. She was blessed to have the love and companionship of a man, Mike Stanley, who was her soulmate for 20 years. She leaves a daughter, Kerri Lynn Gist; two grandsons, Justin Holub (Joy) and Brandon Holub; and one great grandson, Justin Cole Holub all of Carlsbad, New Mexico. She was predeceased by her father Loyd Jackson of Carlsbad, New Mexico. She leaves her mother, Shirley Jackson of Carlsbad, New Mexico; three sisters, Deborah Edington (Bob) of Brenham, Texas, Starla Porterfield (Tom) of Louisville, Kentucky, and Cherene Patty (Kim) of Edmond, Oklahoma; and one brother, John Jackson (Kim) of Colorado Springs, Colorado. She leaves her beloved dog, Outlaw Josie Wales. Finally she left many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, all of whom she adored.

She loved theater, travel, crochet, antiques, family, her dog, puzzles, board games, reading, tradition, and the law. She made it a point to experience everything she saw that she wanted to do, and to always challenge herself to reach for excellence. She spent her life force fully all the time. Above all she loved God. She was a believer in and follower of Jesus Christ. She believed in the power of prayer. She left us an amazing example to follow.

Memorials are suggested to Animal Friends of Washington County, 3901 Hwy 36 N, Brenham, TX 77833 or www.animalfriendstexas.org or Carlsbad Heights Lions Club, P.O. Box 593, Carlsbad, NM 88221-0593.

Local arrangements are in the care of Brenham Memorial Chapel, 2300 Stringer St., Brenham, TX 77833. 979.836.3611 Share tributes at www.BrenhamMemorialChapel.com.