Mary Jacques

Mary June Newell Jacques of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, died August 13, 2021, at her home surrounded by her family. She was born October 16, 1949, in Sault Ste. Marie, to Thomas J. and Edna Joyce (Seaman) Newell.

Mary grew up on Drummond Island and graduated Valedictorian from DeTour High School with the class of 1967. She attended Michigan State University for a year before marrying James Bailey in December 1968. They lived in Germany for a year while James was with the US Army. After settling back on Drummond Island in 1970 and having their family, Mary began working as the driver of Special Education Transportation for DeTour Area Schools. In the early 1980’s, Mary moved to Sault Ste. Marie where she met Ed Jacques. They married on February 29, 1992, in Las Vegas, Nevada. She worked as the bookkeeper for Ed Jacques Construction for several years, as a driver for MetPath, and as an accounting bookkeeper at Gillett Halvorsen & Leonhardt for over 20 years. Most recently she was bookkeeper for Nomad Construction until her retirement in 2020.

While living on Drummond Island Mary was a volunteer EMT for the Ambulance Corps and a member of the Drummond Island Homemakers Club. Mary was an avid reader, loved shopping and eating out, especially in Traverse City, and attended as many of her children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events as she possibly could. Anytime she was invited to participate in any excursions, whether to zoos, parks, ski hills, or tubing on the lake she would enthusiastically take part, earning her the tile of “fun aunt” from her great nieces and nephew.

Mary is survived by her daughter, Dana (Sean) Woodworth of Concord, California; sons, James (Sherry) Bailey II of Drummond Island, Maurice (Lisa) Jacques, and Marc (Gina) Jacques both of Sault Ste. Marie; grandchildren, Andre (Emily), Jason, Allyson (Tommy Coates), Cassidy, Bruce, Jill (Justin Fountain), Brendan, Jake, Sarah, Luke, and Jameson; and great-grandchildren, Jackson and Addyson. She is also survived by her sister, Holly (Scott) Owen; brothers, Robert (Janice) Newell, Danny Newell, Jerry (Becky) Newell all of Drummond Island, and many nieces and nephews.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ed Jacques; son, Andre Jacques; and brother, Thomas Newell.

A Memorial Gathering will be held Thursday, August 26, 2021, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Galer Funeral Homes in Pickford, Michigan.

Funeral Service will be Friday, August 27, 2021, at 2:00 pm at the Lighthouse Christian Church on Drummond Island. There will be a luncheon at the Drummond Township Hall following the service.

Interment at the Drummond Cemetery will be at a later date.

The family suggests in lieu of flowers a memorial contribution could be made to Hospice of the EUP, 308 W 12th Ave., Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783 or the Drummond Island Ambulance Corps, PO Box 225, Drummond Island, MI 49726 or Chippewa County Animal Shelter, 3660 S. Mackinac Trail, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.Galerfuneralhomes.com