Jacqueline Ellen Little Carlson was born June 10, 1934, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She was born the only child to parents Charles Kenneth Little and Pearl Jean Marie Liberty.  Jacqueline married Lew V. Carlson in Minneapolis, Minnesota, February 13, 1954. Jacqueline passed away peacefully in her home, at Sterling Court Assisted Living, April 28, 2023, in St. George, Utah, with her daughter at her side.

Jacqueline started singing & dancing at a very early age in life. By the tender age of 3 years old, she was performing regularly on stage, in local variety shows.  Word of Jackie's precocious, young talent quickly spread throughout her hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota. In very short time the tiny little French-Irish girl, with the dark, wavy hair and big, light green, crystal clear eyes gained local fame. She was soon being sought out to perform in many neighboring cities and counties. Many of these gigs were paid performances. This became a welcomed blessing to she and her parents. As Jacqueline was born at the height of the Great Depression, the proceeds from her performances not only allowed Jackie's training, costumes & travel to continue, what was left often went to help aid in the support of her family, to help get them through this difficult period in our nation's history.

By her pre-teen years, besides traveling throughout Minnesota, Jackie was traveling to such places as New York City & Chicago to perform. Eventually becoming known as, "Little Jackie Little" the Shirley Temple of the East. In addition to her on stage performances, Jackie began singing live on the radio at age 10 years old. Even having a 78 speed record cut of two of the songs she sang live on air.

At age 16 Jackie opened her own dance studio, where she taught all ages. Both boys and girls. She taught several genres of dance; from Tap & Jazz to Ballet & Ballroom; including Swing, Latin, Foxtrot, Cha Cha, Quickstep & the Waltzes to name a few.  A short time after she opened her dance studio, to her great surprise, (and pleasure I'm sure) she was hired to teach her high school football team ballet. As ballet teaches strength and coordination which benefits nearly every sport.

Jacqueline met Lew Carlson in 1953. The two were married nearly a year later, on February 13, 1954. A happy union, which remained for 59 years, until Lew's passing June 2, 2013.  It wasn't long into their marriage before Jackie & Lew were expecting their first child. A little girl they named Lynn Marie, born August 17, 1954.  Unfortunately, Lynn was born with a congenital heart defect. Following unsuccessful open heart surgery to repair the defect, she passed away May 27, 1957, just three months short of her third birthday, utterly shattering Jackie & Lew's hearts into a million little pieces.

Just a year and a half prior to Lynn's death, Jackie and Lew were blessed with their second child, and their first son, Noel James Carlson in January 1956. Two years later in October 1958, another son, Bradley Charles Carlson. And then four years following Bradley's birth, baby boy #3 came into the world in 1962. Eric David Carlson. Four years following Eric's birth their fifth and final child was born, a girl in 1966, Carolyn "Carrie" Carlson.

In 1969, Lew & Jackie and their family were introduced to and baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in the California, Huntington Beach Stake. In 1970 the entire Carlson family entered into the House of The Lord; The Los Angeles, California Temple, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. There as a family they knelt around a beautiful, baby blue, velvet topped alter, everyone dressed in white from head to toe, and were sealed as a family for time and all eternity.

Jacqueline was very active in the church, serving in many callings during her life. The majority of which were served in the Young Women's program, wherever she lived.  Jackie served as a young women's advisor, counselor in the presidency and as Young Women's President. She also served in the Stake Young Women's Presidency, in the Huntington Beach North Stake for many years. Jacqueline also served in the women's Relief Society as a teacher, counselor in the presidency, and also as the Relief Society President. Additionally, Jackie served in the Boy Scout & Cub Scout programs as Den mother and on various committees within the organization.

Their home in Westminster, California is where Jackie & Lew raised all four of their children until they became empty nesters in 1985.  In 1992, they moved to Groveland, California, a little town nestled in the mountains near Yosemite National Park.  In 2003, fearing the direction they began to see the state of California was going, they decided they needed to look for a new state in which to call their home.

St. George, Utah is where their son Eric had settled with his family and where their daughter Carrie would soon be relocating with hers as well. Jackie & Lew decided this would also be a great place to relocate, to be near two of their children and receive the help they would as they lived out their remaining years.  In 2004, Jackie & Lew made the move to Washington, Utah. There they settled in a cute little home their son Eric built especially for them. Complete with a workshop in the back so "retired" Lew could still work on cars for people, and tinker with his many inventions.

Jacqueline is survived by her three sons: Noel, Brad (Wendy), Eric (Julie); daughter, Carrie (Derek); eighteen grandchildren; and 22 great grandchildren.  Jackie was preceded in death by both of her parents; her husband, Lew V. Carlson; and her beloved eldest child, Lynn Marie.

Funeral services were held Saturday, May 6, 2023, at 11am, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Chapel located at 259 North Mall Drive, St. George, Utah.

Jacqueline was laid to rest next to her beloved eternal companion in the Washington City Cemetery, 300 Park View Drive, Washington, Utah.