Jacquie Wilson

Jacquie Wilson, long-time Libby resident, died in early February in Tacoma, Wash.

Jacquie was born in Geneva, Ill., to Willard "Bill" McCracken Hiatt and Henrietta Shawl Hiatt. She was raised in Glen Ellen, Ill. In 1945 she moved with her family to Libby where she graduated from high school.

She met Wilbur Neil Wilson in Libby and they were married in 1949. They moved to western Washington in 1951 where they raised four daughters while living in Seattle, auburn and Edmonds.

Jacquie retired from the Boeing Company after 23 years.

She and Wilbur returned to Libby to care for her parents and then in 2001, they moved to Tacoma.

Throughout her life, Jacquie enjoyed outdoor activities, spending many happy hours on Mount Rainier and scuba diving in Puget Sound. She loved to cook, read and knit as well.

In the 1970s she learned to drive an 18-wheeler and joined Wilbur for a stint of long-haul trucking.

She loved people and organization, which lead to involvement in her church, community and in local politics. When she arrived, her first question was "What needs to be done?" She was a good listener and never afraid to express an opinion. She worked hard as a long-time volunteer at the Libby Library and with the Friends of the Libby Library.

Jacquie was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers, Dennis and Michael Hiatt.

She is survived by her husband Wilbur; daughters Jennie and her husband John Hautala, Helen Wilson, Patricia and her husband Deryl Nielsen and Josie and Sean Smith, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

A memorial service was held on Feb. 16 at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Tacoma. Donations can be made to the Susan G. Breast Cancer Foundation, 888-888-3317.