Jacquelin S. Neatherlin
March 14, 1955 – January 7, 2010
Dr. Jacquelin S. Neatherlin, 54, of Dallas, passed away Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010, at Baylor Medical Center in Plano. Dr. Neatherlin is the daughter of Bruce and Dorothy Neatherlin of Waco. Services will be 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13, at Royal Lane Baptist Church in Dallas. Dr. David Matthews and Dr. Ray Vickery will officiate. There will be no visitation. Friends are invited to come by OakCrest Funeral Home, 4520 Bosque Blvd., Waco, to sign the Family Guest Book.
Jacque was born March 14, 1955, in San Antonio. She was educated in W.I.S.D. and graduated from Richfield High School in 1973. She attended Baylor University School of Nursing and graduated with a B.S.N. in 1977. She earned her M.S.N. at University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in 1980 and her Ph.D. in Nursing at Texas Woman’s University in Denton in 1993. Dr. Neatherlin was first certified by the American Board of Neuroscience Nursing CNRN in 1980 and recertified every five years since. She was a teaching assistant at the University of Texas School of Nursing Health Science Center at San Antonio in 1980, a clinical Assistant Professor of Nursing at the University of Virginia Health Science Center in Charlottesville, Va. in 1989-90, and Professor at Baylor University’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing from 1991 until the time of her death. She was most recently Interim Director of the Graduate Program at the School of Nursing. Jacque’s knowledge and skills were sought after, not only by other nursing schools but by hospitals as well. She was a long-standing member of the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses and served as president of the association. Her expertise was expected at most nursing conventions. She was an invited speaker at over 75 conventions, conferences, and association meetings. Her research, particularly in the area of neuroscience, was prolific, and she contributed her writing to numerous books and journals.
During her career, Jacque received dozens of professional awards for her achievements, including these just in the past decade; She was named an Outstanding Alumna of the Waco Public Schools in February 2008, an honor for which she was nominated by a former teacher in the school system. In 2007, she was named Outstanding Scholarship Award Recipient for the Louise Herrington School of Nursing, as well as CNRN of the Year by the American Board of Neuroscience Nursing, a national award. She was one of the Distinguished Lecturers for Sigma Theta Tau International for 2002-2003. In 2000, she was selected Distinguished Professor for Baylor University in the area of Scholarly Activity. As remarkable as all of this is to the well-being of those on the educational path, it pales in comparison to Jacque’s life journey.
She was baptized at the age of seven at the First Baptist Church in Lawton, Okla., and served the Lord through music. She was a member of the Royal Lane Baptist Church in Dallas, where she was a choir member, a deacon, and the teacher of her beloved class called “The Wise Old Owls.” She always met those in her pathway on level ground. She approached them ready to help, and she did not disappoint or abandon their needs. One of the last loving things she did was to prepare and deliver a bowl of homemade vegetable soup to her ailing neighbor just three days before she was confined to the hospital for the last time. At the hospital last week, one of her beloved fellow choir members spoke of Jacque’s Christian commitment in loving terms when he said, “When it’s time for Jacque to cross over to the other side, it won’t be a long journey.”
Jacque is survived by her loving parents, Bruce and Dorothy Neatherlin of Waco; niece, Alicia Tomlinson of Connecticut; nephew, Matthew Neatherlin of Dallas; great-nephew, Kyle Tomlinson; great-niece, Brianna, of Connecticut; and many loving extended family members. The family appreciates the love and support of the staff of the Baylor School of Nursing, Royal Lane Baptist Church, and Lake Shore Baptist Church in Waco.
Remembering Jacque Neatherlin
Jacque Neatherlin, beloved daughter of Bruce and Dorothy Neatherlin, died Thursday, January 7, at Baylor Medical Center in Plano. Many are grieving this loss – the nursing community both at Baylor School of Nursing and throughout the country, the congregations at Royal Lane Baptist and Lake Shore Baptist Church, all the people Jacque tended professionally and as a friend, and most of all her nephew, Matthew, her niece, Alicia, and her proud and loving parents, Dorothy and Bruce.
Jacque was “Dr. Neatherlin” to many who knew her. She was Professor at Baylor University’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing from 1991 until the time of her death. She was most recently Interim Director of the Graduate Program at the School of Nursing. She was a long-standing member of the American Association of neuroscience Nurses and served as president of the association. In 2008 she was named an Outstanding Alumna of the Waco Public Schools; she graduated from Richfield High School and Baylor University School of Nursing. She earned her M.S.N. at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and her Ph.D. in Nursing at Texas Woman’s University. Her prolific research, teaching, and speaking made lasting, significant contributions to neuroscience nursing.
Bruce said, “As remarkable as all of this is to the well-being of those on the educational path, it pales in comparison to Jacque’s life journey. She was baptized at the age of seven at the First Baptist Church in Lawton, OK, and served the Lord through music. She was a choir member at Royal Lane, a deacon, and the teacher of her beloved class called ‘The Wise Old Owls.’ She always met those in her pathway on level ground. She approached them ready to help …. One of the last loving things she did was to prepare and deliver a bowl of homemade vegetable soup to her ailing neighbor just three days before she was confined to the hospital . . .”