LaVera “Jacque” F. Breeden

LaVera “Jacque” F. Breeden, 84, died in her home on Oct. 8, 2011, in Palmer. She was born Nov. 3, 1926, in Portland, Ore., to Ellis and Freda Bartrow.

Jacque was a welder in the shipyards during World War II in Portland, Ore. She came to Alaska in 1946, where she worked in the mess hall on base washing dishes. There she met the love of her life, Don Breeden. They married and established a home site on O’Malley. They then moved to a home site on Upper Huffman, where they started a dairy operation, working side-by-side.

In 1957, they moved the dairy operation to the Matanuska Valley. In 1966, Jacque attended the Prescott School of Cosmetology. She worked as a beautician at Bonita’s Beauty Shop in Palmer and later opened her own shop, Jacque’s Beauty Shop, on the farm.

The dairy farm eventually changed to Matanuska Industries Inc., which included a variety of businesses over the years: a truck farm (vegetable farm), Matanuska Riding Stables and Guest Ranch, and Matanuska Lake RV Park. In 1987, Jacque and Don retired and moved briefly to Maui, Hawaii.

Some of her interests included quilting, sewing, crossword puzzles, hiking, gardening, decorative painting, organ, violin and trombone. She also volunteered to provide hairdressing at the Pioneer’s Home in Palmer and was a 4-H Club leader.

Jacque was a pioneering woman and homesteader with a generous heart. A champion of the underdog, she provided a home away from home for many neighborhood kids, friends and wranglers and was known for making the best biscuits in the world. Her passion in life was her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her family and friends will all remember her sparkle, easy smile and great stories from real life.

Jacque is survived by her siblings, Moses Bartrow and Caroline Miller; children, Sandy Johnston, Donna Breeden, John Breeden, Linda Reger, Rick Breeden and Ralph Breeden; grandchildren, Luna, Cindy, James, Dawna, Scotty, Felicia, Dawson, Michael, Kiana, Tim, Marissa, Carlie and Brandon; and great-grandchildren, Chi, Trenton, Gavin, Kiernan, Aurora and Lillian.

A celebration of life service are at 2 p.m., Oct. 15 at the Palmer Moose Lodge No. 793, 1136 S. Cobb St., Palmer, AK 99645. Flowers are welcome. She loved red roses. Pallbearers are her grandsons, Scotty Reger, Dawson Reger, Michael Breeden, Tim Breeden, Brandon Breeden and Ben Toche.

When Jacque was a child, the Salvation Army was instrumental in her family’s survival during the depression era. The family requests any memorial donations to be made to the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 1106, Palmer, AK 99645.