Jacqueline Lou "Jackie" Everhart

Jacqueline Lou “Jackie” Everhart, 86, of Peoria, passed away at 8:40 am Tuesday, December 9, 2014 with her family surrounding her in her apartment at Lutheran Hillside Village in Peoria. Jackie was born January 2, 1928 to Harry P. and Carrie (Rork) Schafer in Peoria. She was married to Arthur George Everhart on June 4, 1950 and shared 38 years with him before his death in 1989. Surviving children are Mary Casterline, Carol (Terry) Spayer, and Matt (Gale) Everhart; five grandchildren (who knew her as the magnificent “Mamoo”) Megan (Patrick) Couri, Micah Spayer, Corbin Pozar, Max Everhart, and Sam Everhart; and two great-grandsons Doug and Jack Couri. She is also survived by two sisters, Evalyn Welbourne of Tennessee) and Frances McClugage of Decatur. Her parents and brother, Harold W Schafer preceded her in death. Jackie was a special education teacher for 20 years at Church School in Rockford, Hoover School in Milwaukee; Longfellow, Glen Oak, and White Schools in Peoria. Shortly before her retirement she was selected by Peoria Public Schools as the recipient of the Golanis Award for Excellence in Teaching Special Education. She earned both a Bachelors and Masters Degree from Bradley University and combined her intelligence and organizational skills with her creativity to become a master teacher. Jackie also demonstrated her creativity through her fashion design and dressmaking skills, crocheting, gardening, painting, and crafts. She supported her grandchildren by attending their concerts, musical theatre productions, soccer games, track meets, football games, baseball games, and basketball games. Throughout her life she supported the arts and was an alto in many choirs (Bradley Chorale, University United Methodist Church choir, Universalist Unitarian Church of Peoria). Jackie also volunteered for Proctor Hospital Service Auxiliary, Peoria Public Library, Peoria Symphony Puppets Team, Bradley Continuing Education, and Secretary of Kickapoo Council Girl Scouts. She intentionally challenged her keen mind daily by working crossword puzzles and viewing Jeopardy. Her extensive (and color-coded) genealogical research will forever be a treasure she left behind for her children to continue. She enjoyed playing cards and bingo with her friends at Lutheran Hillside Village and found great meaning in listening to their life stories and sharing of common experiences. During her short year there, she found great joy rekindling many old friendships (from her Woodruff days) and discovering new ones. Jackie was a kind and compassionate person who loved life and was loved by many in return. She was a ray of sunshine and will be missed by all who were lucky enough to know her. Memorial donations may be made to Lutheran Hillside Village, Hospice Compassus or Apostolic Christian Skylines Home Care. A celebration of Jackie’s beautiful life will be held on Sunday, December 21 at 2 pm in the Waters of Life Chapel at Lutheran Hillside Village in Peoria, with Chaplin Dwight Winnett officiating. Deiters Funeral Home and Crematory in Washington is in charge of arrangements.

Jacqueline Lou "Jackie" Everhart

January 2, 1928 - December 9, 2014