The
day was November 2, 1937. Jim and Jane Commerford gave birth to the second of
their six children, Jacqueline Jane Commerford (Jackie), in Newton, Kansas. Of
course you’ve all heard of Newton, Kansas. It’s famous for,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
mmmmmm. Uuuuh, we’ll get back to that.
Jackie Commerford, her four
brothers and one sister were reared by their parents on a farm near Tampa,
Kansas. Jackie and her siblings, Jim, Jolene, Jerry Pat, Jason and Jeff worked
on their farm while they attended school. Jackie was a great kid from early on
as were her siblings. An intelligent
family, they were successful in the farming industry during the days when
someone could be successful in the United States as an individual farmer. They
grew wheat, corn, maze and raised cattle as part of their industry.
After Jackie completed
high school, she attended Kansas State University in Manhatten, Kansas, where
she earned her four-year degree in accounting.
After college, Jackie met
her soon-to-be husband, Irl Unruh, in Wichita, Kansas, where Jackie worked as
an accountant for Kansas Claim Service. Jackie and Irl lived in Wichita where the
first of their three children, Montgomery Joe (Monty), was born.
From Wichita, Kansas,
Jackie, Irl and Montgomery moved to Kansas, City, Kansas, where their second
child, Tanya Rene, was born. After Kansas City, they lived in Hot Springs,
Arkansas, before they moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, where their third
child, Tammy Lee, was born. (yes, Tammy’s
true name is Tammy Lee and, no, she is not a country and western performing artist.)
The family eventually moved to Beaumont,
Texas, where Jackie and Irl established home and built their lives and family.
During their first several
years in Beaumont, each Sunday, the Unruhs would load up, all five of them, in
their little 1965, burgundy Chevrolet, short-bed truck and drive to Silsbee,
Texas, where they celebrated Sunday brunch with Irl’s parents, his siblings and
nieces and nephews. Jackie and her family were finally home in the beautiful piney
woods in southeast Texas, living in the cozy cul-de-sac on Stratton Circle
where they lived for 35 plus years.
In Beaumont, Jackie and
her family grew to make friends with others who they still, to this day, call close
friends. Jackie was happy of where she came from, her present moment, where she
was headed and those with whom she crossed paths along her journey.
In the years to come,
Jackie reared her children while she worked full-time at an accounting firm,
Junker, McMillan and Bennett. Later she earned her Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
license. She raised her children with
love, care, and a firm disposition instilling inner strength in them to succeed
as they moved on with their own lives. In other words, she did her job, and
more, as a loving caring mother, teacher, friend and grandmother.
Jackie was a model of
consistency, stability and positive work ethic while she worked for the same
accounting firm in Beaumont for over 30 years. Her core values were appreciated
by many coworkers and friends. In some ways, you could describe Jackie similar
to a third base umpire; you didn’t hear from her much; usually fairly quiet,
but every now and then she made a great call. Jackie had a beautiful work ethic
and immeasurable inner strength as a mother and wife, and it was her faith
which gave her strength and centering.
Truly, Jackie was a beautiful,
kind, caring soul. She always supported her children’s endeavors, whether it
were athletics, the arts or college. She steadfastly encouraged her kids to do whatever
they wanted and always attended their events and activities. With Jackie, her
children felt as they came first.
After her children left
home, Jackie and Irl happily entered their pre-golden years. Jackie retired from
her professional career having faithfully served her accounting firm and trusting
clients in Beaumont. In September of 2009, Jackie and Irl moved to the hill
country in Marble Falls, Texas, where they retired and established their new lives
and foundation. In Marble Falls they quickly created a strong sense of
community with friends and loved ones and found a new church they immediately called
home. Possibly unbeknownst to some, Jackie’s faith was important to her. In
Marble Falls Jackie and Irl quickly turned a house into a home thought one
would have thought they had lived there for years.
In January 2012, Jackie
was diagnosed with Lymphoma cancer which she had successfully beaten by June
2012. Irl was a beautiful and caring aid to Jackie the entire time as they worked
as a team traveling back and forth to Houston, Texas, for chemotherapy for six
months. Jackie defeated lymphoma until this past October when it returned, this
time with a little more vengeance.
For anyone who knew
Jackie, the first thing that would come to mind when people thought of her
would not only be her mild manner, fun, caring, sometimes quiet disposition and
great sense of humor, but would be her strength. She was a great listener and the
glue for her family. She was the essence of strength, a true
pillar.
Jackie was this
writer’s mother and she will be sorely and greatly missed.
She
is survived by her husband, Irl Unruh; children, Monty Unruh of Austin and Tammy Unruh Tinkle
and her husband, Jeff, of Rockwall; grandchildren, Hayden Tinkle and William
Tinkle; brothers, Jim Commerford of Witchita, Kansas; Jerry Pat Commerford and
his wife, Catherine, of Emporia, Kansas; Jason Commerford and his wife, Chris;
and Jeff Commerford and his wife, Rae Jean, all of Americus, Kansas; and
sister, Jolene Agnes Ingle and her husband, John, of Witchita, Kansas.
She
is preceded in death by her daughter, Tanya Rene Unruh.
A
gathering of Mrs. Unruh’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00
p.m., Friday, November 28, 2014, at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue,
Beaumont. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m.,
Saturday, November 29, 2014, at St. Anne Catholic Church, 2715 Calder Street,
Beaumont, with interment to follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont.
Memorial
contributions may be made to Julie Rogers Gift of Life Program, 2390 Dowlen Road, Beaumont, Texas 77706.
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