Jacqueline Belle Sapp Fontaine

Jacqueline Belle Sapp Fontaine was born on December 4, 1930 in Austin Texas. She graduated from Austin High School in 1948. In 1950, she went on a date with a cute young Aggie named Tommy Fontaine and for both, it was love at first sight. They were married on September 7, 1951.

Following her husband’s career opportunities, they lived in Houston, New Orleans, and Rochester NY. After retirement, they were full-time RVers, traveling the country, with a home base in Coldspring, TX. They eventually settled in Edgewood, NM where they lived until 2016 before moving to Austin to be near daughter Joanna and her family.

Jackie always wanted to be a wife and mother, and she threw all of her heart into that. She firmly believed a parent’s job was “to teach your children to fly,” and she raised her children to be strong, independent, and ethical. But she also instilled in them a sense of humor, a love for good cooking, a curious spirit, and a commitment to liberal politics and principles.

Jackie loved reading, especially books about or by strong women like Molly Ivins, Ann Richards, and Barbara Jordan.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Willie Belle Sapp, her brother, John Sapp, her husband, Thomas Fontaine, her son Jeff Fontaine and daughter Rebecca Fontaine. She is survived by son Dan Fontaine and daughter-in-law Kim Fontaine, daughter Joanna Fontaine Crawford and son-in-law Tom Crawford, and her adored grandchildren: Jackson Crawford, Kaziah Crawford, Lilyanne Crawford, and Marenna Crawford.

She absolutely would tell you to fight like hell to protect your (and everyone’s) right to vote. And then do it. Vote.