Grace D. Meyer

Grace D. Meyer, 80, of Springfield, passed away on Monday, March 2, at Memorial Medical Center after a brief illness. Grace was born on November 16, 1934 in Belgique, Mo, the daughter of the late Frank and Allene (Guyot) DeWilde. Growing up Grace attended grade school at the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Belgique, MO. She graduated from Perryville High School in Perryville, MO. While in high school Grace was bestowed the honor of being personally requested to work as a court reporter in Perryville. After high school she moved to St. Louis to work for Westinghouse as a secretary. She also attended Patricia Stevens Modeling School in St. Louis where she was asked to compete in the Ms. Missouri Pageant. In 1960 in St. Louis, Grace met and married William “Bill” W. Meyer. The shared 54 years of marriage together filled with many travels and adventures due to Bill’s work. They lived in Maine, where she worked as an assistant to an optometrist, Montana, Florida, and on 3 different Air Force Bases in Germany. At Spangdahlem Air Force Base in Germany, she was asked by the Wing Commander to host a party on the base for all of the officer’s wives, which was an unusual honor for a civilian. In 1972 Grace and Bill settled in Springfield. She worked as an executive secretary for: the Illinois Courts, the Federation of Illinois Colleges and Universities, several CPA offices, apartment complexes, WICS T.V., she later worked part time in retail sales, and volunteered and supported several charities. Grace enjoyed attending auctions she even helped as a clerk at local auction houses, she thoroughly enjoyed crossword puzzles, but most of all was a faithful and devoted Catholic, wife, and mother who loved to care for her family. Grace and Bill were attending The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception for the last several years.

Grace is survived by her loving husband Bill, her daughter Suzanne Meyer both of Springfield, her brothers and sisters: Velma (deceased James) Fortney of Festus, MO, Albert (Margie) DeWilde of Perryville, MO, Irma (deceased Robert) Pratte, of Festus, MO, deceased sister Shelby (Bob) Fronckiewicz, Rita (Don) Guenther of St. Louis, Marge (deceased Alfred) Benhoff of St. Louis, David (Ida) DeWilde of Amesbury, MA, Daniel (Donna) DeWilde of Waterloo, IL, Richard (Brenda) DeWilde of Perryville, MO, and Stephen (Peggy) DeWilde of Perryville, MO, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Funeral services are under the direction of Bisch & Son Funeral Home, 505 E Allen St. Springfield, IL, 62703. The family will receive guests on Thursday, March 5, 2015, from 4-7 p.m. at the funeral home.

A funeral mass celebrated by Rev. Christopher House will be on Friday, March 6, 2015, at 10 a.m. at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 524 E Lawrence Ave. Springfield, IL 62703.

Cremation rites will be accorded by Bisch & Son Funeral Home at a later date.

Those who wish may leave memorials to St. Martin De Porres Center in Springfield, Habitat for Humanity, Goodwill Industries, or the Animal Protective League.

Please share in Grace's online “Life Remembered Story” at www.bischandsonfuneralhome.com