Jacqueline Kay (Monroe) Ferree

Jacqueline Kay Munroe was born to Blanche and Edgar Munroe on May 7, 1938 in Wayland, Michigan. She was a farmer’s daughter and learned early how to meet the needs of everyone around her, a gift she would continue to use throughout her lifetime.

Jackie’s family moved to Michigan where she graduated from high school, and then went with her family to Kankakee, Illinois, where her parents moved so that Jackie, her brother Dale, and sister Louise could attend Olivet Nazarene College.  While at ONC, Jackie met Jerry, and they were married in College Church of the Nazarene on August 2, 1958.  Jackie was 20, and Jerry was still 19 years old!  

After they married, Jackie and Jerry lived in married housing on the ONC campus while Jerry finished his degree.  Their first daughter Sheri was born in Kankakee in July of 1961.  After Jerry graduated, he and Jackie moved to Pontiac, Michigan, where Jerry began his teaching career.  Jackie made a beautiful home with her daughter Sheri, and daughter Jill, who was born in October of 1963.

While living in Pontiac, Jackie taught primary (first grade) Sunday School at the Pontiac First Church of the Nazarene for several decades, and also worked part time as the church secretary.  She was always super creative and organized, and touched the lives of many children who were under her care during those years.

In January of 1977, Jackie and Jerry welcomed the added blessing of daughter Bethany into their home.  Shortly after that, Jackie began taking on the role of sitter and Nanny to several little people, all of whom she loved dearly.  She was so natural and wonderful in this role, and has left an amazing, beautiful impact on so many children and their families.  Still today, grown adults still reminisce about their time with Grandma Jackie when they were little.  

Jackie and Jerry later relocated to Lake Orion, Michigan and remained until 2001 when they moved to Fayetteville, NC to be closer to their daughters.  They had always been active in the Nazarene Church and immediately became part of the Church of the Nazarene here in Fayetteville.  Grandma Jackie loved picking her grandsons up from school or baseball practice, and loved seeing her granddaughters in Virginia and Florida. Jackie loved to travel in North Carolina and enjoyed the new adventures of the East Coast. 

Jackie’s health began to deteriorate about ten years ago but she continued to try to cook and serve as hostess when she could.  When it became necessary for Jackie, she and Jerry moved to Highland House and were there together during the covid pandemic. Jerry looked after Mom for that long year and we are thankful that God allowed them to be together.  Neither one of them would ever dream of leaving the other, and they stayed by each other right until their passing one month apart. 

Jackie’s family remembers her as an amazing hostess and cook.  She loved to prepare meals and would always bake her fabulous blueberry pie for every family gathering.  She was the glue that held us together and the world is a less beautiful place without her in it. We each have so many memories of the ways she touched our lives personally, and we grieve our loss profoundly. 

Jackie leaves behind her three daughters and their families, which include two sons-in-law, Wesley and Tom; three granddaughters, Christina, Shawna, and Charisma; two grandsons, Christian and Jacob; and three great-grandchildren, Jenna, Alex, and Jaxson. Jackie’s brother Dale and his wife Carolyn, and her sister-in-law Mary and her husband Jim are with us today and also mourn her passing.  

A funeral service for Jackie will be held at the Fayetteville Church of the Nazarene at 12:30 PM on Monday June 28.  The family will receive guests at noon.  Jackie is being cremated and her ashes laid to rest beside Jerry at Lafayette Memorial Park on Ramsey Street in Fayetteville.

Mom, Grandma, Great-grandma, Jackie, we love you and will miss you dearly.  Please send bluebirds.  We will be watching for them. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jacqueline Kay (Monroe) Ferree, please visit our floral store.