Jacquelyn Edith Pheasant, 80, of Ephrata, passed away on Tuesday, October 20, 2009, at her home. She was born on August 19, 1929, in Raymond, SD, to Roland and Doris Darling. The family moved from Raymond to Wenatchee, WA in 1934, and eventually moved to Riverside, WA. She graduated from Riverside High School in 1947. She attended Kinman Business University in Spokane, WA. While in high school, she met the love of her life, George Pheasant, from Tonasket, WA. He was the captain of the Tonasket Tigers football team and she was a cheerleader for the Riverside Cougars. Rival schools, but love won out. They married on April 8, 1950, in Tonasket. They moved to the Columbia Basin, where they bought 80 acres in the middle of the sagebrush outside of Soap Lake, built a home and started their orchard business, which eventually became Pheasant Brothers Basin View Orchards. Jackie was involved in many community and church activities. She was a Campfire Leader, P.E.O. Society member, Soap Lake PTA, volunteer Pink Lady at the Columbia Basin Hospital, Hospice volunteer, a member of the United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women and, together with her husband, a strong supporter of the Ephrata Food Bank and the annual Christmas Baskets. She was the organizer for Healing Meals at her church. Through this ministry, she brought many meals and kindness to those who were suffering with illness or loss. She was gracious to all who came into her presence and supported her family and friends with gentleness and love and many apple pies.

She was preceded in death by her husband, George Pheasant; and her parents, Roland and Doris Darling. She is survived by two daughters, Mary Mantz and husband, Rob of Ephrata and Kathy Buhl and husband, Don of Soap Lake; two sisters, Jo Stone of Tonasket and Lola Deonne Beeman of East Wenatchee; a brother, Dale Darling and wife, Pat of Toroda Creek; grandchildren, Melissa West and husband, Ken of East Wenatchee, Mindy Bliss and husband, Charles of Ephrata and Michael Mantz of Ephrata;

great-grandchildren, Kyle, Kierra and Ashley Smith of Ephrata, Ryan and Kaitlyn West of East Wenatchee, Jayden and Zoei Mantz of Ephrata, Markel, C.J. and Patrice Bliss of Yakima; brothers-in-law, Tom Pheasant and wife, Dolores of Ephrata, Allen Pheasant and wife, Jody of Ephrata and Ralph Pheasant of Ephrata; and numerous nephews and nieces.

There will be a Family Graveside Service on Saturday, October 31, 2009, at 11 a.m. at the Valley View Memorial Cemetery in Soap Lake with a Memorial Service at 2 p.m. at the United Methodist Church of Ephrata. If desired, memorials may be made to the United Methodist Church, the Ephrata Food Bank or any local Humane Society or pet shelter.