1927
Jacqueline
2014
Jacqueline Dolph "Jackie" Macy
October 9, 1927 — November 2, 2014
Obituary for Jacqueline Dolph "Jackie" Macy
Jacqueline Dolph Macy
October 9, 1927 – November 2, 2014
Born and raised on a homestead ranch forty-five miles west of Havre on Montana's Hi-line, Jackie lived life with resilience and on her own terms, and remained—in her own words—"ornery as ever" till the end. She died peacefully of natural causes and surrounded by love.
Her parents met on horseback, and both of them had homesteaded separately, as did her maternal grandfather and an uncle. Her family raised sheep, considered a "two-crop" animal—for wool and for meat. The family favored the Columbia breed, which her father helped develop, for it heartiness and adaptability to the Hi-line's harsh conditions. They also farmed wheat and had a large garden, all of which helped them live through the Depression.
The youngest of five siblings, naturally curious, and ever-ambitious, Jackie learned all she could about ranch life, school, and the larger world. As a youngster on the ranch, she mastered skills—both indoors and out—that had helped her parents, Daniel and Nancy Dolph, each "prove up" their homestead land in the 1910s. She was very active in Hill County 4-H, and became an excellent cook and baker, tailored her own suits, and learned to shear sheep and raise a dry-land garden. She attended school through 8th grade in Hingham, MT a small town near the ranch, and then attended and graduated from Havre High School in the mid-1940s.
Seeing and seeking more opportunity in her future, she left the ranch and attended Iowa State College in Ames—partly on a 4-H scholarship—and majored in Home Economics. In the 1940s, this was one of only a few paths available to women and she was intent on making the most of it in her own way. While at Iowa State, she met and dated Roland "Mace" Macy. After Jackie graduated and began working as an Iowa home economist, they married in July 1952 in New York City on The Bride and Groom Show, a live TV program broadcast nationally on CBS. The couple remained in Hardin County Iowa until they moved to Iowa City in 1955 so Jackie could pursue graduate studies at the University of Iowa. In early 1957, she earned a Master's degree in Sociology. The couple then moved to Illinois, where in December 1957, their first child, Roland ("Rusty") was born.
Jackie was a social worker with the Bloomington, Illinois School District, and worked especially with at-risk populations, including children with various disabilities. In September 1966, Jackie and Mace's second child, Nanette ("Nan") was born. For several years in the 1960s and early 1970s, Jackie was involved in and served in various leadership roles for Pilot International, a business women's service organization.
In 1970, Jackie was hired as the Executive Director of the YWCA of Bloomington, Illinois (now, the YWCA of McLean County), which at the time was located in a historic building on Jefferson Street. Jackie led the YW through much growth during her tenure of nearly 18 years. This included a name change, extensive programming expansion and innovation, as well as the original land acquisition and building construction at the current YWCA site on Hershey Road in Bloomington. Though the Jefferson Street building was set to be demolished, Jackie wanted to solidly link the YWCA's past, present, and future and so saw to it that a key piece of the old building was preserved: the cement cast sign that read "Young Women's Christian Association." The sign was embedded on the side of the building above the second floor. Using cranes and other big machinery, the sign was carefully extracted and moved to the Hershey Road site, and today it is at the corner of Hershey and Empire on the edge of the present YWCA property.
During her 30+ years in McLean County, Illinois, Jackie served on several organizational boards and worked with numerous non-profits and other organizations, including those her kids were involved with. The Macys were long-time members of St. John's Lutheran Church and Lakeside Country Club, and were enthusiastic boosters of both U-high and Illinois State University athletics.
An excellent bowler who used a 16-pound ball, Jackie participated in several leagues in McLean County, Illinois over the years. She once bowled a near-perfect 279 game, she carried a life average of 180, and she is in the Bloomington-Normal Women's Bowling Hall of Fame.
Jackie loved to travel in the US and Canada, as well as abroad. Regardless of route, the ultimate destination on these trips was often Montana's Hi-line where Jackie had grown up. Though she had left the ranch as a teenager, she returned many times over the decades with Mace and the kids, she made sure her kids grew up knowing the ranch and extended family, and she always remained proud of her origins.
In 1988 Jackie retired from the YWCA, and she and Mace moved to Montana's Flathead Lake to enjoy themselves in the area's beautiful surroundings. Once in Polson, Jackie and Mace jumped into service and social groups, and enjoyed golf, various card groups, and organizational events sponsored by the Masumola club, the Elks, the Shrine, and the Masons. She and Mace transferred their membership from Illinois to Good Shepard Lutheran Church, Polson. In Lake County, she volunteered at the Sandpiper Art Gallery, the Folk Shop, and the library. Jackie also continued her lifelong love of gardening.
Jackie was preceded in death by husband, Roland; her parents; sister Phoebe, and brothers, Russell and Howard. She is survived by her brother Elbert, her children Nan and Rusty (wife, Cathy), grandchildren Lindsey and Patrick, several nephews and nieces, and her grandcats.
Her funeral will be held Saturday, March 21, 2015, 11am at Good Shepard Lutheran Church, Polson, MT, with interment immediately following. Funeral arrangements are being handled by The Lake Funeral Home and Crematory, Polson. To leave condolences, please visit www.groganfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be designated to cancer research at Mayo Clinic, Dept. of Development, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, or on-line at https://philanthropy.mayoclinic.org/.
Read Jacqueline "Jackie" Dolph Macy's Obituary and Guestbook on www.groganfuneralhome.com.
October 9, 1927 – November 2, 2014
Born and raised on a homestead ranch forty-five miles west of Havre on Montana's Hi-line, Jackie lived life with resilience and on her own terms, and remained—in her own words—"ornery as ever" till the end. She died peacefully of natural causes and surrounded by love.
Her parents met on horseback, and both of them had homesteaded separately, as did her maternal grandfather and an uncle. Her family raised sheep, considered a "two-crop" animal—for wool and for meat. The family favored the Columbia breed, which her father helped develop, for it heartiness and adaptability to the Hi-line's harsh conditions. They also farmed wheat and had a large garden, all of which helped them live through the Depression.
The youngest of five siblings, naturally curious, and ever-ambitious, Jackie learned all she could about ranch life, school, and the larger world. As a youngster on the ranch, she mastered skills—both indoors and out—that had helped her parents, Daniel and Nancy Dolph, each "prove up" their homestead land in the 1910s. She was very active in Hill County 4-H, and became an excellent cook and baker, tailored her own suits, and learned to shear sheep and raise a dry-land garden. She attended school through 8th grade in Hingham, MT a small town near the ranch, and then attended and graduated from Havre High School in the mid-1940s.
Seeing and seeking more opportunity in her future, she left the ranch and attended Iowa State College in Ames—partly on a 4-H scholarship—and majored in Home Economics. In the 1940s, this was one of only a few paths available to women and she was intent on making the most of it in her own way. While at Iowa State, she met and dated Roland "Mace" Macy. After Jackie graduated and began working as an Iowa home economist, they married in July 1952 in New York City on The Bride and Groom Show, a live TV program broadcast nationally on CBS. The couple remained in Hardin County Iowa until they moved to Iowa City in 1955 so Jackie could pursue graduate studies at the University of Iowa. In early 1957, she earned a Master's degree in Sociology. The couple then moved to Illinois, where in December 1957, their first child, Roland ("Rusty") was born.
Jackie was a social worker with the Bloomington, Illinois School District, and worked especially with at-risk populations, including children with various disabilities. In September 1966, Jackie and Mace's second child, Nanette ("Nan") was born. For several years in the 1960s and early 1970s, Jackie was involved in and served in various leadership roles for Pilot International, a business women's service organization.
In 1970, Jackie was hired as the Executive Director of the YWCA of Bloomington, Illinois (now, the YWCA of McLean County), which at the time was located in a historic building on Jefferson Street. Jackie led the YW through much growth during her tenure of nearly 18 years. This included a name change, extensive programming expansion and innovation, as well as the original land acquisition and building construction at the current YWCA site on Hershey Road in Bloomington. Though the Jefferson Street building was set to be demolished, Jackie wanted to solidly link the YWCA's past, present, and future and so saw to it that a key piece of the old building was preserved: the cement cast sign that read "Young Women's Christian Association." The sign was embedded on the side of the building above the second floor. Using cranes and other big machinery, the sign was carefully extracted and moved to the Hershey Road site, and today it is at the corner of Hershey and Empire on the edge of the present YWCA property.
During her 30+ years in McLean County, Illinois, Jackie served on several organizational boards and worked with numerous non-profits and other organizations, including those her kids were involved with. The Macys were long-time members of St. John's Lutheran Church and Lakeside Country Club, and were enthusiastic boosters of both U-high and Illinois State University athletics.
An excellent bowler who used a 16-pound ball, Jackie participated in several leagues in McLean County, Illinois over the years. She once bowled a near-perfect 279 game, she carried a life average of 180, and she is in the Bloomington-Normal Women's Bowling Hall of Fame.
Jackie loved to travel in the US and Canada, as well as abroad. Regardless of route, the ultimate destination on these trips was often Montana's Hi-line where Jackie had grown up. Though she had left the ranch as a teenager, she returned many times over the decades with Mace and the kids, she made sure her kids grew up knowing the ranch and extended family, and she always remained proud of her origins.
In 1988 Jackie retired from the YWCA, and she and Mace moved to Montana's Flathead Lake to enjoy themselves in the area's beautiful surroundings. Once in Polson, Jackie and Mace jumped into service and social groups, and enjoyed golf, various card groups, and organizational events sponsored by the Masumola club, the Elks, the Shrine, and the Masons. She and Mace transferred their membership from Illinois to Good Shepard Lutheran Church, Polson. In Lake County, she volunteered at the Sandpiper Art Gallery, the Folk Shop, and the library. Jackie also continued her lifelong love of gardening.
Jackie was preceded in death by husband, Roland; her parents; sister Phoebe, and brothers, Russell and Howard. She is survived by her brother Elbert, her children Nan and Rusty (wife, Cathy), grandchildren Lindsey and Patrick, several nephews and nieces, and her grandcats.
Her funeral will be held Saturday, March 21, 2015, 11am at Good Shepard Lutheran Church, Polson, MT, with interment immediately following. Funeral arrangements are being handled by The Lake Funeral Home and Crematory, Polson. To leave condolences, please visit www.groganfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be designated to cancer research at Mayo Clinic, Dept. of Development, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, or on-line at https://philanthropy.mayoclinic.org/.
Read Jacqueline "Jackie" Dolph Macy's Obituary and Guestbook on www.groganfuneralhome.com.
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