Jacqueline Raynor Bye

Jacqueline Raynor Bye died peacefully at home with her daughter Candace, son-in-law Jeff, granddaughter Sara, and dear family friend Kendra Kruse by her side.

She was born on January 20, 1923, in Trenton, New Jersey to the late Horace and Elizabeth (Kuhen) Holmes and died on January 16, 2023, four days shy of her 100th birthday! She lived an amazing and full life in between.

She was raised in Trenton until her senior year, when the family moved to Philadelphia where she graduated in 1941 from Yeadon High School. She worked as a telephone operator for a year until the summer of 1943 when President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Navy Women’s Reserve Act (WAVES), a division of the U.S. Navy, created during WWII to free up male personnel for sea duty. She was stationed in Washington, D.C., where she met her future husband, Earl, (also in the Navy) at a USO dance and married on July 21, 1945, in San Francisco. They both took advantage of the G.I. Bill and enrolled in Northern Michigan College (University) in Marquette. After living briefly in Flushing, Farmington, MI; Bound Brook, N.J, and Rogers City, MI, they moved to Alpena, MI in 1961, where they raised their family, and both retired from Alpena Public Schools in 1984. Earl preceded her in death on October 8, 2004. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and very active in the Order of the Eastern Star. She volunteered at the Alpena General Hospital, providing comfort and conversation to patients for thirty-five years.

She is survived by her sons Steven (Nancy) Bye, Randall (Gail) Bye, daughter Candace (Jeff) Powers; daughter-in-law, Kathy Bye; grandchildren Sara (Brian) Winter, Ryan Bye, Justin (Julie) Bye, Heather (Aaron) Fry, Erik (Siena) Bye, Casey (Ryan) Helmboldt, Alicia Bye, Carly Powers, Travis (fiancée Ariel Taylor) Powers; great grandchildren, Maren (Levi Goebel) Winter, Eli Winter; Taylor, Cameron and Makenna Helmboldt, Kennedy and Lincoln Bye, Camden and Beckett Fry.

She was preceded in death by her infant son, Allyn; son Robin Bye; her sister Marilyn, two brothers Horace “Bud” Holmes and Stanley Holmes.

Memorial visitation will take place on Friday, January 20, 2023 (her 100^th birthday) at the First Presbyterian Church from 10 a.m. until the time of the memorial service at 12 noon with Rev. Dr. Robert Case officiating, followed by military honors by VFW Alpena Post 2496. Arrangements are being handled by the Bannan Funeral Home.

Inurnment: Pine Grove Cemetery, Sault Ste. Marie, MI

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, Hospice of Michigan or Alpena Senior Citizens Center.