Jacquelyn McNutt

Jacquelyn, known as ‘Jacquie’ within the community, was born June 6, 1946 to parents Willard McNutt & Ann Muretta in the small town of Lovell, Wyoming. Raised with three older brothers, Clifford, Walter, and Bill, Jacquie grew up in the Northwestern United States and throughout life lived in many different parts of the country.

Life blessed Jacquie by being survived by four children, Matthew, Catherine, Elisabeth and Allison, as well as nine grandchildren, Zachary, Maxwell, Olivia, Samuel, Olivia, Dalida, Lyric, Eleanor and Edmund.

As a lifelong Christian, Jacquie was an active member of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Southport, NC, frequently volunteering in a number of roles. In the later years of her life, the Serenity Prayer and the Peace Prayer of St. Francis took on great meaning and was embraced as a way of life.

Jacquie was active in numerous community service organizations – including serving as Board Member, Secretary, Treasurer and Vice President of Waves4KIDS, an outreach non-profit that helps meet unmet needs of foster, adoptive and other youth in need. Leisure time included being an avid reader, an accomplished writer, a love for landscaping and the outdoors, and sharing the joy of cooking large meals for family and friends.

Education was one of Jacquie’s most important pursuits in life. She graduated from the University of Wyoming with a B.S. in Industrial Engineering while on a full varsity tennis scholarship, and went on to earn a PhD in Forest Managerial Science and a joint MBA/M.S. in Managerial Sciences and Forestry. Prior to beginning a professional career, Jacquie served as an intelligence officer in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam war, earning the rank of captain and was awarded the Bronze Star.

Professionally, Jacquie made a significant impact within the field of global forestry management and wood pulp and paper science over a career than spanned nearly five decades. Jacquie helped found the Center for Paper Business and Industry Studies at Georgia Tech and served as both President and Executive Director of the center. She was formerly President and CEO of Jaakko Poyry Consulting North America, as well as serving as the Head and Senior Advisor to ForestWeb, Inc. Jacquie served on the Board of Directors for the Paper Industry Management Association and the Governing Board of Directors for the World Forestry Center. Jacquie ran a successful independent consulting business (Degrees of Excellence) and was affiliated with North Carolina State University as an Executive in Residence.

Early career endeavors were spent serving in senior executive positions at well known paper companies Georgia-Pacific, Great Northern Nekoosa Corporation, Jefferson Smurfit, Container Corporation of America, and Potlatch Corporation. At various points during a long career, Jacquie also held teaching positions at the Georgia Institute of Technology, the University of Washington, and Oregon State University. Areas of expertise were wide ranging and included forest products, forest resources, climate change, sustainability, carbon management, energy efficiency, renewable energy and quantitative sciences related leadership. This unique career included extensive world travel, and she developed an understanding and appreciation for people from many cultures.

Known for having an independent spirit, Jacquie embraced life with a tireless work ethic, a quick sense of humor, was a brilliant problem solver and was known for not being afraid of change. Those who truly knew Jacquie best can bear witness to a life full of adventure, service, accomplishments, failures, joy, pain, and a genuine heart in search of repentance and redemption. Later years in semi-retirement were filled with family and helping to raise beloved grandchildren. Jacquie’s passing came unexpectedly and quickly, leaving behind a life uniquely lived and not soon to be forgotten by family and friends.

The family will have visitation on Friday, July 21, 2023 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Peacock - Newman & White Funeral Home. The funeral service will be at St. Philip's Episcopal Church on Saturday, July 22, 2023 at 3:00 PM. The burial will be immediately following the funeral service at Northwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, 205 E Moore St, Southport, NC 28461.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.peacocknewnamwhite.com for the McNutt family.

Peacock - Newnam & White Funeral and Cremation Service, Southport, North Carolina.