At 4:05 a.m. on the 9th of August Jefferson lost a wonderful lady known to all as Miss Daisy. She passed away after a debilitating stroke suffered five months earlier and is missed by all she touched in her life.

Daisy Meyer began her life as the next to the youngest daughter of OHK and Ruth Handley of Bivins, Texas on the 2nd of April, 1918 and grew up in a country family of seven children. The hard life of Northeast Texas farmers taught her from an early age the realities of this life. Although she loved life, family and friends, she learned early the necessity of hard work and strong Christian values as a member of the Bethsaida Y Baptist community. After the loss of her mother and eldest sister she and her remaining sisters shouldered the family responsibilities at an early age and worked the farm through the depression years until most had married and moved away. She then gained her beautician license and moved to Jefferson with her father and lived with the family of her sister Mattie and husband Bus McDonald. There she met Ernest J Meyer (Ernie), fell in love and married. Their plans were quickly interrupted by the approach of WWII. Ernie enlisted in the Coast Guard and was stationed at Cape Saint George Florida and, like many wives, she followed him as closely as possible. For her the war years produced a nomadic life in which she met and befriended many others in her situation that would remain cherished friends she communicated with throughout her life.

After the war she and Ernie returned to Jefferson and began their family in the Gray Community of eastern Marion County where they owned and operated a country general store and gas station. There she gave birth to their two sons, Joe and Jack. When they reached school age they sold the store and moved to Jefferson where she became a member of the Catholic community and the Meyer family and made their home on what they called “Vatican Hill’. When finally settled in their new home on Houston Street she took in her father, now Grandpa Handley, where he lived to his death in 1959.

In Jefferson she began her career as the owner and operator of a successful women’s apparel business, Julane’s and became active in many community and church affairs. She was an active member of the Catholic Altar Society, Garden Club, PTA, Scouts, Historic Society, etc. Daisy loved her plants and gardening. During this time she also became a trusted businessman to the F. A. Schluter Foundation and the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Jefferson Texas Foundation. At the same time she carried on her own personal love and care for her family and anyone she encountered in need. She worked tirelessly to improve the beauty of her community and preserve its history. After losing Ernie in death, after 52 years of marriage, she devoted herself to her community.

Miss Daisy, as she was now known, was always observed to be an unassuming humble lady who never uttered a word of anger to anyone, no matter how deserved it may be. She was seen to be always a hard working strong willed and self-assured lady who loved those God placed in her life. She worked, played, laughed, loved and lived with an enthusiasm rarely found today and amazed all with the strength of heart and body she possessed. She was truly a remarkable lady who is missed by all; a lady we are all blessed to have known.

A Rosary will be said for Miss Daisy by the Ladies of the Altar Society at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 201 N. Vale St., Jefferson, TX. at 6 p.m. on Monday the 13th of August to be followed, the next day, by Mass of Christian burial at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday The 14th of August, also at immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Funeral Mass will be offered by The Very Reverend Gerald Priest of the Diocese of Tyler, assisted by the Very Reverend Robert Rehkemper and The Reverend Daniel Clayton of the Diocese of Dallas. Interment will follow at Oakwood Cemetery under the direction of Haggard Funeral Home of Jefferson. Visitation will be held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church before Rosary on Monday from 5-6 p.m. In lieu of flowers it is requested that memorials be made to the Altar Society of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Jefferson, Texas

Surviving relatives include her son, Jack Meyer, her brother Jack Handley of Reno, NV, her sister Ruth Vickery of Kerrville, TX., and numerous nieces nephews and a host of friends and family.

Pallbearers include Charles McMichael, Lee Scott, Paul Meyer, Jim McDonald, Gene Roberts, Dwain Handley, Charles Handley, Gene Allen and Ed Dean.

Honorary pallbearers are, David Meyer, Tom Meyer, Kevin Scott, Stephen Scott, Paul Mason, James Medford and Gavin Wilson.