Juliana "Juli" Marie Jackson

Juli Jackson

November 19, 1969 - May 19, 2025

Juliana Marie Jackson was born in Oceanside, California to her loving mother, Lorena Besecker. Juli attended Carlsbad High School, and as a young adult, enjoyed visiting her favorite beaches and going to concerts with friends.

In 1987, Juli met Chad Engelgau in San Diego, where they started their family with their oldest son Alex (Joseph), and daughter Shelbie, before planting roots in Round Rock, Texas, where their youngest daughter Betsie was born. The family would spend over 15 years in Round Rock, where Juli made their house a home, raising Alex, Shelbie, and Betsie, alongside their two chihuahuas Chloe and Lily.

Over the years Juli honed her passion and natural talent—creating beauty in the world. In her paint-covered workshop, Juli built colorful tapestries, elaborate designs, and refurbished vintage furniture. Juli saw the beauty in everyday objects, noticing the small details that most of us take for granted. Everything she touched turned into a living piece of art. She was even featured on HGTV’s Crafters Coast to Coast production in 2004.

In 2008, life brought the family back to North County San Diego to be closer to Grandma Lori. 

But even as life changed dramatically after the passing of her mother, Juli’s move back home led to another stroke of destiny. She was re-introduced to Jimi Jackson in 2011, which friends described as true love the night they met. Juli and Jimi quickly built a life together, sharing their love for travel, music, movies, and home cooked meals. Juli and Jimi married on June 15th, 2019, in Cabo San Lucas, and built their forever home on Rocking Horse Road in Vista, CA.

Juli and Jimi’s forever home is a testament to her passion for home living. Juli built a true garden of Eden in their backyard. With a green thumb’s determination, she installed terraces with her own two hands, painting the beds with a wide variety of vegetation including avocado trees, blackberry vines, nasturtiums, tomatoes, leeks, sunflowers, and many more. The amount of love she poured in the backyard is mirrored within their home. Every square inch is adorned with her style of welcoming, cozy, modern, maximalism. From the endless collection of fur blankets, positive affirmation signs spread across the house, and family photos abound, she created a home that reflects love within everything. Juli’s friends and family spent nearly a decade making memories in her oasis on Rocking Horse Road during vacations, holidays, and birthdays.

It was in this home that she also raised her two beloved sheepadoodles, Blu and Luvie, who she spoiled every chance she could. Juli built her home as much for her family as she did for her dogs, where she would spend hours toiling away in the garden with Blu and Luvie by her side. Her unwavering dedication to Blu and Luvie was a testament to her selflessness, whose needs she always put above her own.

Juli understood that by beautifying the places where we spend our lives, she could surround herself and others in the same shimmering glow that she saw the world in.

Juli was preceded by her mother, Lorena Cowell, and her stepdaughter, Faith Jackson. Juli’s love is survived by her husband Jimi Jackson, her children Alex Engelgau, Shelbie Engelgau Cox, Betsie Engelgau de Bruyn, and Dacia Gawitt, and her grandchildren Rosie Engelgau and her soon to be born baby sister, Evan Jackson Bakerink, and Porter Gawitt, and her two dogs Blu and Luvie.

Juli’s Memorial Service will be held on June 7th, 2025 at St. Michael’s By the Sea, 2775 Carlsbad Blvd, Carlsbad, CA 92008 at 12PM. Reception will be held at the Jackson’s residence shortly after.