Jacquelin Neatherlin

Dr. Jacquelin S. Neatherlin, 54, of Dallas passed away Thursday, January 7, at Baylor Medical Center in Plano. Dr. Neatherlin is the daughter of Bruce and Dorothy Neatherlin of Waco.

Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 13, at Royal Lane Baptist Church in Dallas. Dr. David Matthews and Dr. Ray Vickery will officiate.

Jacque was born in San Antonio on March 14, 1955. 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 seventy-five conventions, conferences, and association meetings. She 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, Oklahoma, 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; her niece, Alicia Tomlinson of Connecticut; her nephew, Matthew Neatherlin of Dallas; her great-nephew, Kyle Tomlinson, and her 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.

For those who are inclined, Jacque has requested any memorials to be to the Louise Herrington School of Nursing Excellence, 3700 Worth Street, Dallas, TX 75246 or to Royal Lane Baptist Church, 6707 Royal Lane, Dallas, TX 75230.