William E. Jacque

1939 - 2022

William E. Jacque

Williamsburg, MA William (Bill) E. Jacque, 83, of Williamsburg, MA passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 26, 2022. Born January 16, 1939 in Amherst, MA to Albert and Georgianna Jacque of Amherst, Bill was one of ten children. He spent his younger years growing up on a dairy farm with his older siblings in Mill Valley Amherst where they raised Jersey cattle. Bill could often been seen as a teenager at the fairs exhibiting cattle and later became a devoted 4-H leader in Amherst. Throughout his farming career, he met his first wife, Mary Lou Truesdell of Colrain. Bill and Mary Lou purchased their own dairy farm in Colrain (Elmgrove Jersey Farm) where they raised two children, Karen and Ken. Bill continued as both a 4-H leader in Franklin County and dairy farmer for another 20+ years. He was also a selectman for the town of Colrain and the Cattle Superintendent for the Franklin County Fair for many years. Many Franklin County youth involved in Bill and Mary Lou's 4-H club became future farmers, applying the skills taught to them through Bill's committed leadership and animal husbandry values.

In 1987, Bill and Mary Lou sold their Jersey herd and divorced. Until retiring in the 1990's, Bill was an employee of the UMass Policy Department where he performed security work across campus and also performed road details for the town of Colrain.

In 2003, Bill met Arlene Paton and they were committed to each other right up to his death. He was a life partner to Arlene and her extended family for nineteen years. Bill loved hunting, fishing and especially poetry and songwriting. His music CDs were known locally.

Bill is survived by his sisters Anita Hickey of Westhampton and Nancy Brownhill of Lee; his partner, Arlene Paton of Williamsburg and her family; son Kenneth and daughter-in-law Jennifer Jacque of Belchertown; daughter Karen and son-in-law Michael Phillips of Gill; granddaughters, Katelyn Ennis (Conor) and Mackenzie Phillips, and Delaney and Harlow Jacque; and great granddaughter, Shealyn Ennis. Bill will be missed dearly by his entire family.

A private service will be held Monday, November 14 , 10am at Smith-Kelleher Funeral Home, 87 Franklin Street, Greenfield, MA. In lieu flowers, donations can be made to Linda Manor Nursing Home in Leeds, MA or the American Cancer Society.