It’s been a sad week here at the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter. Last Wednesday, we learned one of our family members had lost her battle with cancer. Jackie Trice had served for more than 20 years as an administrative assistant in both the East St. Louis Service Center and then in the Metro East Service Center.  “Jackie was an advocate for the clients she served and often times we would receive letters thanking Jackie for her support and care given while they were being served by the Red Cross,” said Cindy Erickson, chief executive officer of the St. Louis Area Chapter.

Jackie Trice was an administrative assistant for the Red Cross since 1988. She lost her battle with cancer on August 5, 2009.

In her day job, Jackie was more than an administrative assistant. She was the heart and soul of the Fairview Heights office. According to executive officer Nancy Bates, Jackie knew how to get things done: “Jackie answered dozens of calls a day, and many of them weren’t even Red Cross related. But if someone called and wanted legal aid or paternity testing, Jackie knew where to send them. She was just so connected in the community that she could answer just about any question that someone might have.”

Jackie grew up as one of 12 children. Food was a scarce commodity, with so many to feed, so Jackie quickly learned the value of not letting food go to waste. Co-worker Connie Bergmann says, “Jackie always carried two plastic baggies in her purse and would take food home with her. When I would go out for lunch and she stayed at the office, she still sent me with a baggie to fill.”

During her 21-year career with the Red Cross, Jackie served on 29 disaster relief operations, the first in Houston, just a few months after she started work. While she traveled to disaster sites across the country, she also provided support here at home, notably during the ’93 Floods that hit Missouri and Illinois so hard. Jackie had a calm demeanor that would help diffuse even the highest tensions inside a relief shelter.

Here are some of the thoughts of Jackie’s closest co-workers in the Metro East Service Center:

“While I didn’t know Jackie long, she was definitely someone I could talk to if I wanted to laugh.  She was hilarious!  She always had a funny quote to share, or a funny story to tell.  She had little cartoons and funny quotes taped to her desk that reminded me of things I could have easily heard her say.  It’s the little things like that I’ll miss.” – Kelly Briggs, Health & Safety Associate

“She was very compassionate and I learned such valuable lessons about life through her eyes.  She was a classy dresser and I enjoyed shopping with her. Her two grandchildren were the light of her life.  My fondest memory is laughing at any and everything with her. The office is quiet now and we will need to learn to laugh again.” – Connie Bergmann, Disaster Associate

If you have a memory of Jackie you would like to share, please leave it in the comments below.