Jacqueline Bee Bishop was born April 4, 1929, in Valentine, Nebraska to Guy V. and Mildred (Shelbourn) Bishop.
Jackie spent her entire childhood in Valentine, attending Valentine schools and graduating from Valentine High School in 1947. She was employed at the First National Bank after high school until the end of the year 1949.
Jackie and Gerald Grace were married on August 18, 1948, in Valentine and made their home there most of their married life, except for three years when they resided in Wichita, Kansas from 1954 to 1957. Jackie spent many years as a housewife and mother, rejoining the work force in 1965, at the Cherry County Sawyer Memorial Library. When the Educational Service Unit merged office space and staff with Sawyer Library in 1970, Jackie made both media departments her life’s work until her retirement September 1, 1994.
Jaqueline was a member of the Valentine United Methodist Church. She served as Secretary of United Methodist Women in Valentine, served two terms on the Board of Trustees for the Valentine Public Library, worked with Cub Scouts and Brownie Scouts and taught Sunday School when her children were young. She was also a member of the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum and devoted many hours to tending flowers and wildflowers in the family garden.
Four children were born into the family: Robert Steven, Lance Alan, Jerilyn Jean, and Daniel Nathan.
Jackie is survived by:
Children Steve of Valentine; Lance (Joyce) of Medford Oregon; Jerilyn Grace Morris (David) of Lincoln, Nebraska; and Dan (Christine) of Greeley, Colorado.
Grandchildren Jeremy Grace (Amy) of South Sioux City, Nebraska; Katie (Brian) Jensen of La Mesa, California; Joshua Grace (Brianne) of Columbia, South Carolina; Nathan Morris (Michele Bartos) of Lincoln; Samuel Morris of Lincoln; Jacob Grace of Greeley; and Rachel Grace of Ft. Collins, Colorado.
Great grandchildren Daxton Grace, Caleb and Hannah Jensen, Silas and Bennett Grace.
Brother Bob (Jeanne) of Lincoln; sisters Jean McMindes (Lyle) of Grand Island, Nebraska; Sharon Bishop of Henderson, Nebraska; and Janet Bishop of Lincoln.
Nieces Sean Irish (Walter Wasserburger), Robyn Bishop (Chris Brewer), and nephew Jamie Bishop (Riko).
Preceded in death by her parents; husband of almost 59 years, Gerald Grace; sister Marilyn Bishop; brother Bill Bishop; nieces Kellie K. Irish and Marlys Irish Brindisi; nephew Larry Irish; and grandnephew Isaac Brewer.
Funeral service for Jackie Grace, age 93, of Valentine will be held on Friday, May 6, 2022 at 2:00 PM at the United Methodist Church in Valentine. Burial will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Valentine. Visitation will be on Thursday, May 5 at 4:00 PM at Sandoz Chapel of the Pines. Mrs. Grace passed away on April 26 in Firth, NE.