DAVENPORT — Jacquetta Marie Beyer, 61, known to all as "Jacque," a resident of Davenport, was born Dec. 21, 1953, in Council Bluffs, Iowa, a daughter of Pierce and Gladys (Opp) Gay. Her family moved to the Quad-Cities in 1958, and she graduated from Bettendorf High School in 1972. Jacque spent her life learning the big love of her Savior and sharing His big love with all she encountered. She delighted in music, especially playing the piano and singing, and enjoyed getting her hands dirty in her flower garden. Jacque deeply loved her family and friends and, just as she could coax the most beautiful notes from the piano, she could draw out the best of everyone she met.
Following a courageous two-year battle with breast cancer, Jacque, a beautifully redeemed daughter of her King, Jesus Christ, died peacefully Thursday, May 7, 2015 at 9:30 p.m., at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House. Jacque was surrounded by her family when she passed.
Those left to cherish her memory include her loving husband, Bruce; children, Jeremy (Kellee) Boots, Matthew (Lisa) Boots, Brianne (Patrick) Kelley, Brad Beyer; grandchildren, Kailynn and Keira Boots, Parker and Turner Boots, Kennedy and Boston Kelley; parents, Pierce and Gladys (Opp) Gay; siblings, Dennis (Mooch) Gay, Joy (Dave) Vacek, Wayne (Joyce) Gay, Dale (Cindy) Gray; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, May 13, 2015, at Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, 614 Main St., downtown Davenport. Celebration of Life and Memorial service for Jacquetta M. Beyer will be Thursday, May 14, 2015 at 10 a.m. at Heritage Church, 2700 Middle Road, Bettendorf. Per Jacque's request, the colors of a "garden in bloom" should be worn by all. Private family burial will take place at Davenport Memorial Park.
Memorials can be made to the cancer recovery foundation "Live Strong" at the YMCA Bettendorf. Online condolences and remembrances may be expressed by visiting Jacque’s obituary at www.hmdfuneralhome.com.
At low times like these, happy memories bubble to the top. "Jacque" liked having fun and laughter came easily...got us into trouble in Mrs. Maine's math class, when she asked us "what was so funny?" Neither of us could come up with a reason. Her face was as red as her hair, sometimes worn longer our early years, adorned with barrettes or flowered bobby pins. She was a trendsetter, hosting the first birthday party @ noon time where several of us followed her home for a "quick" celebration of cake, ice cream & presents. And there was a Halloween gathering @ the Gays where they blindfolded us and pushed our hands into bowls of guts (cooked macaroni) and eyeballs (peeled grapes). Yes, her humor was pure and innocent. We'd share stories about our friends from Sunday School. Isn't it ironic I discovered that she worked @ the church in which I grew up? I'm remembering when she came to school to tell us about her brother, (Wayne?) sticking his finger into an animal cage and getting it nibbled off (rabbit?) And then on to BHS where she sang in the Variety Show, all the while hiding the lyrics of the song on a note in her hand, then tearing the paper into shreds in relief as she walked off the stage. Yes, I have some fond memories of Jacquetta...our Girl Scout days..she must have got her badge in leadership as she went on to be one of the officers of our senior class. So a celebration of life is definitely appropriate!
Jill Fisher (Jay)
DAVENPORT — Jacquetta Marie Beyer, 61, known to all as "Jacque," a resident of Davenport, was born Dec. 21, 1953, in Council Bluffs, Iowa, a daughter of Pierce and Gladys (Opp) Gay. Her family moved to the Quad-Cities in 1958, and she graduated from Bettendorf High School in 1972. Jacque spent her life learning the big love of her Savior and sharing His big love with all she encountered. She delighted in music, especially playing the piano and singing, and enjoyed getting her hands dirty in her flower garden. Jacque deeply loved her family and friends and, just as she could coax the most beautiful notes from the piano, she could draw out the best of everyone she met.
Following a courageous two-year battle with breast cancer, Jacque, a beautifully redeemed daughter of her King, Jesus Christ, died peacefully Thursday, May 7, 2015 at 9:30 p.m., at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House. Jacque was surrounded by her family when she passed.
Those left to cherish her memory include her loving husband, Bruce; children, Jeremy (Kellee) Boots, Matthew (Lisa) Boots, Brianne (Patrick) Kelley, Brad Beyer; grandchildren, Kailynn and Keira Boots, Parker and Turner Boots, Kennedy and Boston Kelley; parents, Pierce and Gladys (Opp) Gay; siblings, Dennis (Mooch) Gay, Joy (Dave) Vacek, Wayne (Joyce) Gay, Dale (Cindy) Gray; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, May 13, 2015, at Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, 614 Main St., downtown Davenport. Celebration of Life and Memorial service for Jacquetta M. Beyer will be Thursday, May 14, 2015 at 10 a.m. at Heritage Church, 2700 Middle Road, Bettendorf. Per Jacque's request, the colors of a "garden in bloom" should be worn by all. Private family burial will take place at Davenport Memorial Park.
Memorials can be made to the cancer recovery foundation "Live Strong" at the YMCA Bettendorf. Online condolences and remembrances may be expressed by visiting Jacque’s obituary at www.hmdfuneralhome.com.
Pat Truman
At low times like these, happy memories bubble to the top. "Jacque" liked having fun and laughter came easily...got us into trouble in Mrs. Maine's math class, when she asked us "what was so funny?" Neither of us could come up with a reason. Her face was as red as her hair, sometimes worn longer our early years, adorned with barrettes or flowered bobby pins. She was a trendsetter, hosting the first birthday party @ noon time where several of us followed her home for a "quick" celebration of cake, ice cream & presents. And there was a Halloween gathering @ the Gays where they blindfolded us and pushed our hands into bowls of guts (cooked macaroni) and eyeballs (peeled grapes). Yes, her humor was pure and innocent. We'd share stories about our friends from Sunday School. Isn't it ironic I discovered that she worked @ the church in which I grew up? I'm remembering when she came to school to tell us about her brother, (Wayne?) sticking his finger into an animal cage and getting it nibbled off (rabbit?) And then on to BHS where she sang in the Variety Show, all the while hiding the lyrics of the song on a note in her hand, then tearing the paper into shreds in relief as she walked off the stage. Yes, I have some fond memories of Jacquetta...our Girl Scout days..she must have got her badge in leadership as she went on to be one of the officers of our senior class. So a celebration of life is definitely appropriate!
Pat Truman
Lincoln School classmate