Obituary for Jacqulyn “Jackie” Couser Botelho: March 27, 1943 to September 4, 2025

Jacqulyn “Jackie” Botelho passed away at Renown Medical Center in Reno on Thursday, September 4, 2025.  She was 82.

Jacqulyn (Jackie) Couser Botelho was born in Hutchinson, Kansas on March 27th, 1943, and was the only child of Ralph Samual Couser, and Neoma Lee Thomas. They moved to Los Angeles, California when she was a young child. From an early age, Jackie had a passion for climbing trees, basketball, music, and spending time with her family.

She attended Ramona Convent School, in Monrovia, California, where she met her future husband, of 65 years. Jackie and Bill married on October 8th, 1960, and moved to Hawaii where they had their first three children before moving to Covina, California where they welcomed two more children. In 1970 they moved their young family to Smith Valley, Nevada, where Jackie quickly became woven into the fabric of this beautiful community.

She had a gift of making a house feel like a home. She loved cooking, baking, music, sewing, crocheting, dancing, and being a mom. She juggled the competing demands of family, a career, and service to others with grace, skill, compassion, and commitment. Alongside her husband, Bill, she built several successful businesses: The Central Garage, The Central Café (which became a staple for locals), B+B Farms, Smith Valley Transportation, several ranches, and Smith Valley Irrigation, dedicating 41 years to ensure that the community had access to all of their irrigation needs, day and night. She also dedicated decades of service to both the local & state Soroptimist chapters, and the Lyon County School Board. She championed women’s and social issues and was a long-time supporter of animals, and children’s charities. Her grace was evident in everything she did.

Jackie’s simple joys were her family, home, her beautiful yard & garden. Among her most precious treasures were her wild roses, and the angel figurines that overlook her garden, and adorn shelves throughout her home, as she believed angels were watching over her. To those who knew her, she was Jackie, to us, she is our Mommy. Mama, your legacy of unwavering love, perseverance, strength of character, kindness, and unending curiosity to learn and embrace life will forever live on in us as we carry it forward in all that we do. We know the angels carried you home to heaven where your mom, Nana, has patiently awaited your homecoming. We grieve your passing but will cherish our memories of you and will rejoice when we are all together again. Mama, you finally got your wings… and can fly.

Left behind to cherish her memory are her husband, Bill Botelho, children Michael Todd Botelho (Marilou), Barbara Paulei Botelho Vasquez (Mando), Leeanne Botelho, William Thomas Botelho (Nancy), and Mary Jo Botelho McCarthy (Brent), her 18 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and her beloved cousin Elaine Brown.

Her funeral service will be held on Monday, September 15th, 2025, at 11:00 AM at the Smith Valley United Methodist Church, 44 Rivers Road, Smith, NV, 89430 with burial to follow at the family plot at Hillcrest Cemetery.  In Lieu of flowers, the Botelho family kindly requests that donations be made in Jackie’s memory to your local animal shelter.  Family and friends are invited to sign her online guest book at www.FRFH.net

Arrangements are under the direction of Freitas Rupracht Funeral Home, 25 Hwy 208 Yerington, NV 89447 (775) 463-2911