A "passionate, kind and thoughtful" parish council clerk and founding member of a Kent Rotary club has died.

Fiona Jackson, of Eastchurch Road, Sheppey, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, December 22 at age 58.

Her partner of 40 years, Danny Stack said she died suddenly of coronary artery disease of which she was unaware.

The 71-year-old said: "She will be sadly missed by myself and her older siblings, Vanessa and Chris, along with the many friends she made on Sheppey."

Fiona and Danny met many years ago in Stratford, East London. It was there she began working with him in his pet shop and dog grooming parlour in Bow.

They later closed the shop but kept the dog grooming parlour and launched a second-hand shop.

Danny said: "One weekend, more than 20 years ago, we visited Sheppey for the first time.

"We saw a lovely terraced house for sale and moved in three months later."

The couple started a mobile dog grooming business and Fiona became Eastchurch's parish clerk.

Cllr Kathleen Carter, chairman of Eastchurch Parish Council said: "Fiona was a joy to work with, friendly, kind and thoughtful.

"She was passionate about the parish, helping the local community and worked with many associations, councils and agencies earning great respect because of her knowledge and professionalism.

"As well as her statutory duties, she worked tirelessly on special parish projects including Royal Navy flypasts celebrating Eastchurch’s aircraft history.

"Fiona’s meticulous timing never failed to impress the numerous VIPs.

"She contributed greatly to village projects including our Christmas lights, Queen’s Jubilee picnic, garden awards and South East in Bloom – with the parish winning gold for the past three years."

Fiona trained at art college and enjoyed making the certificates for winners.

Cllr Carter added: "Fiona had great community spirit and always tried to encourage residents to join in and make Eastchurch a village to be proud of.

"Her death is a huge loss to the community. Our thoughts are with her partner Danny, family and friends at this difficult time."

Fiona was also a founding member of the Rotary Club of Minster-on-Sea 15 years ago.

President Mike Brown said: "Fiona has been one of our keenest and hard-working members.

"She was instrumental in establishing our contact with Rotary Clubs in Germany, Holland, Belgium and France and arranging the annual meetings of the five clubs.

"When the club took over organising the Island Run she was immediately involved with its organisation and was every year since."

Seven years ago Fiona became the first female member to be elected president of the club and received a Paul Harris Fellowship, the club's highest award for outstanding service to the Rotary movement.

Mike added: "In all of the club's community activities, she was always there, whether it was the beer festival, food collections or our meetings. Her ability to see all facets of a proposal will be sorely missed.

"Only a few days before her passing, she could be seen outside Morrisons with a bucket collecting money for the local foodbank.

"Fiona's greatest love was for the Rotary International End Polio Now campaign which, for several years, has raised funds to provide polio jabs to young people in vulnerable countries.

"The symbol of this cause is the purple crocus and a fitting memorial to Fiona.

"The flower can be seen in a few weeks' time when groups of purple crocuses will start to bloom all over the Island.

"They have been planted by our club in locations planned and designed by Fiona over the past five years.

"We will all miss her very much."

Danny added that Fiona had "very green fingers".

He said: "She has a beautiful garden although she was in the process of redesigning the front garden.

"She loved all sorts of crafting from macrame and potting, to wet felting and painting. She was a very talented lady.

"Her only regret was not making the move to Sheppey earlier. She really loved the Island."

Her funeral will be held at The Garden of England Crematorium, Bobbing on Monday at 3pm.

Her family has asked that anyone attending might like to wear a splash of colour in memory of Fiona's love of bright colours.

Danny added: "We will be wearing a green tie as that's her colour."

The family has asked for no flowers apart from theirs at the service but donations in her memory to Sheerness RNLI can be made through Luke Allum Funeral Directors on 01795 669534.