04/06/2026
Jacqueline Lear
Jackie Buero Lear, 91, was kindhearted, fun loving, and generous. Though small in stature, Jackie's energy could fill a room.
Little Jacqueline was born at home on Alexander Street, Charleston, South Carolina on January 16, 1935. Her parents, George Joseph, "Mike", Buero and Stella Sirisky Buero already had two daughters Marilyn Stella Buero (Tezza) and Lucy Jennie Buero (Amundson).
For about twenty-one months, Jackie was the baby but then, Mike and Stella welcomed a set of twin boys: Michael Joseph and George Francis Buero. Now, Jackie was both a little sister and a big sister. One more sibling was eventually added to the Buero family and Jackie took pleasure in nurturing, protecting, and tutoring her baby sister Elsie Antoinette, "Nette", Buero (Gill).
Jackie started school early because her father persisted in enrolling her. From her year at Kelly Free Kindergarten to her graduation from Rivers High School, Jackie was always the youngest in her class. Jackie once remarked that her one semester at St. Angela's Academy in Aiken, South Carolina was a turning point in her education. At this private all girls academy she learned self-discipline. When Jackie returned home, she completed her education and in 1952 she was part of the second graduation class of Rivers High School. She was not quite sixteen and a half.
Jackie's first job out of high school was at a bank on Broad Street, but banking did not suit her creative nature. Jackie found a better fit at WCSC radio where she could write copy.
However, Jackie didn't stay long at the radio station either. In July of 1954, Jackie married Lt. Richard Hamilton Bonds, Jr., US Air Force. Dick Bonds was from Michigan and Jackie's Southern ways charmed his Yankee heart. Their marriage lasted over twenty years during which time, Jackie experienced life beyond the Mason-Dixon line as well as in other cities abroad. After Dick's retirement in Michigan, Jacqueline and Dick divorced and like the Folly Beach sea turtles, Jacqueline returned to the place of her birth.
Having no children of her own, Jackie bloomed into the role of being the fun aunt to her Charleston nieces and nephews. Fun might be playing "Here comes the kitty train" where she and the children would take turns pulling her cats around the house enthroned like royalty atop a small throw rug.
Besides being an auntie, Jackie reconnected with an old beau from her high school days. Like Jackie, Richard Lear, whom Jackie called "Bull", was single again. Theirs was a comfortable relationship. They both loved football and in their youth, they had both attended dance classes at Joan Simmons School of Dance.
It wasn't until 1998 that Jackie and Dick Lear married. By then, they'd tailgated and attended years of both Citadel and Clemson football games. One of the couple's favorite outings was attending the annual Greek Festival held at Middleton Place. At the festival, Dick's young daughters and Jacqueline's nieces had the chance to play together.
Bull saw to it that Jackie's dream house on Folly Beach became a reality. Folly was the perfect spot to host relatives for a day of sun and fun.
Because life cannot be all play, Jacqueline found employment at the Charleston Health Department. It was a good fit for her outgoing personality and she could be helpful to people seeking birth or death certificates. Jackie stayed at the Health Department until her retirement.
In different decades of Jackie's long life, she had varying interests. In the 1970s during the Women's Movement, Jackie joined PAR, People Against R**e. Later, Jackie and her friend from work at the Health Department became founding members of Unity of Charleston. Living at Folly Beach alerted Jackie to the plight of the abandoned cats near her home. This concern for cats, led her to join Pet Helpers. Lastly, after her Bull died, Jackie needed an outlet to enable her to be useful to others and to give her a reason to get up and out of the house. Finding the Charleston Hat Ladies was just the blessing she needed. It filled both requirements.
Jackie loved to dance. Beach music and dancing the s**g were favorites, on the pier or at the Sheraton, place didn't matter. When the Hat Ladies needed dancers to do the Charleston for residents of Retirement Communities, Jackie volunteered.
As her nieces matured, Jackie's devised new ways to entertain them. Hours flew by playing "Dress Up" in her Easter Promenade finery or going zany in one of her Folly Gras or Halloween costumes.
By accident and by purpose, Jacqueline collected dolls and stuffed animals. Some were saved from her childhood, some were collected from her travels, some were gifts from friends, and some were foster dolls and bears that her nieces and nephews had out grown.
On January 16, 2026, Jackie's family, friends, and aids gathered at the Palmetto to celebrate Jackie's 91st birthday. To our great delight, after the gift opening and the blowing out of the candle, this shrunken, thin to the bone waif of a woman stood up and gave a speech to thank us.
In her final days when Jackie was under the care of Hospice at Palmetto of Charleston Assisted Living and Memory Care, her family used their cell phones to play music for her. She did not dance. Instead, we saw her visibly relax. She sighed and her sigh spoke volumes.
Thanks are extended to all those who kept the vigil at Jackie's bedside: both family and caregivers Virginia Smalls and Rosalie Matthews and to the hospice nurses and the staff at Palmetto Assisted Living and Memory Care.
Jackie's family is especially grateful to Jackie's friend Carolyn Jayko, who has graciously become caretaker to "Cowboy", Jackie's 19 year old tabby cat, and to Archie and John Burkel her good friends to the end. We also thank Jackie's niece Marti Buero Merrell and nephew Mark Tezza for assuming the many duties Jackie failed to assign.
Jacqueline Lear is survived by her brother Michael Joseph Buero (Sherrel), her sister Elsie Antoinette Buero Gill (Bob), her step children Charles R. Lear (Jennifer), Mark E. Lear (Bobbi), Alycia A. Lear, Kristi L. Florence in addition to nieces Chris Holmes Thomas, Marti Buero Merrell(Mark), Carmen Buero Conley (Robert), Michelle Mack Thompson, and Cynthia Mack (Jason). Jackie's surviving nephews are Robert J. Tezza, David A. Tezza ("Ginny"), Donald G. Tezza (Lynn), Mark J. Tezza (Nancy), Richard R. Tezza, and Bryant A. Tezza (Viki), Michael C. Golemis, George C. Holmes (Lisa), Matthew B. Buero, Michael Buero, and Joseph A. Gill (Julia). There are many great nieces and nephews and a few great, greats.
Jackie is predeceased by her parents, George Joseph Buero and Stella Mary Sirisky Buero, her husband Richard Lear, her sisters Marilyn Stella Tezza and Lucy Jennie Amundson, her brother George Francis Buero, her Aunt Elsie Holtslander, her niece Lisa Bernadette Holmes, her nephew Bryant's son, David Lucas Tezza, and her niece Chris's husband, Horace B. Thomas (Bubba).
Jacqueline Lear's vistation will begin 10:00 AM ,Thursday, April 9, 2026, with a Funeral Service to follow at 11:00 AM at the James A. McAlister Chapel, 1620 Savannah Highway. Interment will follow at St. Lawrence Cemetery, Huguenin Ave, Charleston, SC 29401.
Arrangements by James A. McAlister, Inc. (843) 766-1365.
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