Jean Louise Tacy, 86, of Watervliet passed away November 6th at Hanson Hospice.

Born on February 4th, 1938 to Willard and Edith (Soper) Romoser, Jean was raised in Benton Harbor alongside her brother Bill and sister Joanne. Jean was a resilient, independent, and strong-willed gal who did whatever she set her mind on doing. She was the first woman meter-reader for Indiana-Michigan Power in Benton Harbor. She married the love of her life, Robert "Bob" Tacy and together they spent a lifetime supporting one another in their endeavors. Jean's dreams came true when they opened Hy-Hopes Arabian Farm and Tacy Saddle Shop on their small ranch on M-140. Jean was a true horse woman, and the farm was her pride and joy.  There they bred and boarded horses and dogs as well as gave riding lessons and held events. Jean had a great love for all creatures of the four-legged persuasion and was almost never pictured or seen without a cat, dog, or horse by her side.

Bob and Jean retired to Florida where they opened Paw Paw Kennels and raced greyhounds. Jean loved these dogs, and she kept albums upon albums of their photographs as beloved pets in her home. Life brought Bob and Jean back to Berrien County, where they remained. Later in life Jean cared for her husband, sister, and mother at the end of their lives. She also volunteered at North Berrien Senior Center and drove for Meals on Wheels. She may have had a tough air about her, but she was a loving caregiver with a big heart.

Jean was a master of wit and dirty jokes, and she never took life too seriously. You could expect her to stick her tongue out at you whenever she sensed a lecture coming, and she never failed to slip a one-liner into every conversation. She maintained her good sense of humor to the end, and it will be greatly missed.

She was preceded in death by her parents Willard and Edith Romoser, loving husband Robert (Bob) Tacy, sister Joanne Romoser,  nephew David Romoser, and many beloved pets. She is survived by her brother Willard (Bill) Romoser of Washington, "niece" Charlaine Lundgren and her husband Aaron Bulger of Eau Claire, nephew Michael (Tracy) Romoser of Washington, cousin John Soper of Saint Joseph, and cousin Patricia Knipple of Wyoming

Jean was a force to be reckoned with and will be greatly missed. Memorial contributions to Berrien County Animal Control in her name would be appropriate, as Jean spent her life loving animals.

Berrien County Animal Control
1400 S Euclid Avenue, Benton Harbor MI 49022
Web: http://www.berriencounty.org/224/Donations