The Facts:

Jacqueline Anne Myers, 86, passed away on Tuesday, July 26, 2022. She was born August 18, 1935, in Lewistown, Montana to Carle Dewey Myers and Ada Mae Swears. After Lewistown, the family moved to a small farm in Kalispell, then to Missoula, and finally to Salt Lake City, Utah when she was in high school. Prior to her 21st birthday, and to avoid being a June bride, on May 31, 1956, Jackie married Max L. Waters of Burley, Idaho in the Salt Lake City Temple. Together they lived in Provo, Utah, Greeley, Colorado (while Max finished his schooling), then back to Provo. Jackie is preceded in death by her parents and siblings, her husband, Max, her perfect daughter, Kristine Elizabeth, and a granddaughter, Valerie. She is survived by her sons, Matthew L, Steven M (Jill Bolton), David E (Eva Hill), Jon Thomas, an almost-adopted son, Andreas Aldave (Andrea), 12 grandchildren, and 23 great grandchildren.

The Fun:

Jackie was a fun person to be around. She told stories of roller skating down a steep hill in Lewistown, having her dad teach her to drive a stick shift at the age of 8 when he was hurt on the farm and needed her to drive the truck back to get help (he drew the shifting pattern in the dirt and off she went), taking care of a young fawn in Kalispell, singing in the South High School choir in Salt Lake City, and asking Max to pull over early in their relationship and let her drive because he was too cautious and it was driving her nuts. You may have had the figurative experience of being on a roller-skating adventure with her, driving together in a farm truck with gears grinding, or being the young fawn that she took in. This was a life well lived.

At the age of 29, she became the bishop's wife to the BYU 10th Ward (1963 to 1970). Many former members of that ward have come by the house, made telephone calls, and written letters over the years all saying how much they loved her. To this day, when someone hears our last name, it is common to have them ask, "Are you related to Max and Jackie?" Now that is a legacy.

After Max passed away, a bishop from the Pleasant View 1st Ward renamed her from Jackie Waters to Wackie Jaters (pronounced, Wacky Jawters). Wackie teased nearly everyone she met (grandchild, friend, or stranger) and made numerous loyal and devoted friends along the way – from the BYU 10th Ward, to 40 years in the Pleasant View 1st Ward, to her last years in the Slate Canyon 11th Ward, to the random person at the checkout line, the gas pump, the pet store, the park, or the drive-thru at Burger King ("Whopper Jr., please"). Also, Grandma Wackie loved her dogs, cats, any horse she ever saw, and any farm animal that she could smell.

The Not-So Fun:

Jackie struggled with depression her whole life and, for at least the last twenty-five years, has let everyone know that she wished this life was over. Despite how fun she was on the outside, inside there was a darkness that made it impossible for her to accept that anyone cared about her. She didn't know how to feel love despite all those who regularly told her that they did. A legacy that we have come to appreciate from her is that of endurance. She endured. She persisted. A granddaughter recently said that she now knows where she gets her strength from – neither Jackie nor Jackie's mother (who also dealt with depression) gave up. They were strong though they couldn't see their own strength. That strength is available to us. Right now, take a deep breath in, say quietly to yourself, "Thanks, Jackie," and let the breath out. You are loved.

The Finale:

Jackie made the family swear on pain of potential eternal hauntings (yea, verily, unto the third and fourth generation) that we would NOT hold a funeral. We made no such promises related to a viewing or a graveside service. As such, there will be a viewing at the Walker Sanderson Funeral Home (646 E 800 N, Orem, Utah) on Monday, August 1, 2022, from 6PM to 8PM. Graveside services will be on Tuesday, August 2, 2022, starting at 11AM at the Evergreen Cemetery (1997 S 400 E, Springville Utah).

Condolences and memories may be shared with the family online at www.walkersanderson.com.