Wendy Archer remembered after crashing on Pacific Highway near Byron Bay after laying her father to rest

A Gold Coast mum who perished in a car crash returning home from her father’s funeral has been remembered as a “special soul” that could make “anyone laugh”. Read the heartfelt tributes.

Wendy Archer, 63, perished in a car crash on the Pacific Highway at McLeods Shoot, near Byron Bay on Friday June 13, on her way home from her father's funeral.

A Gold Coast mum who died in a horror crash at Byron Bay on her way home from her father’s funeral has been remembered as a “special soul” that could make “anyone laugh”.

About 2.20am on Friday June 13, emergency services were called to the Pacific Highway at McLeods Shoot near Byron Bay, following reports a car had left the road and crashed into a sign.

Wendy Lin Archer was 63.

Close friend and “soul sister” Joanne Sampson said her friend’s untimely death has left a profound void in the lives of those who knew and cherished her.

Wendy Archer, 63, right, with long time friend Joanne Sampson.

In the final months of her life, the Gold Coaster stayed in Erina on the Central Coast, caring for her father, who was battling cancer, and her mother, who is living with early-onset dementia.

“Her devotion to her parents was inspiring. She adored them,” Ms Sampson said.

Wendy Archer, 63, perished in a car crash on the Pacific Highway at McLeods Shoot, near Byron Bay on Friday June 13, on her way home from her father's funeral.

On June 10, Wendy’s family laid her father to rest in Maitland near Newcastle.

Exhausted and grieving, she had been away from her beloved Queensland home for too long and longed to be in her own space again.

“On Thursday, June 12, Wendy packed her things, her mum, and her precious cat Zelda. She dropped her mum off at her brother, Peter’s place to stay for a while, then continued up to Port Macquarie to visit a friend,” Ms Sampson said.

“I last saw her at 5pm that Thursday. I had no idea it would be the last time.

“My heart is broken.”

Wendy Archer, 63, lost her life in a single car crash on the Pacific Highway near Byron Bay on June 13.

Wendy was born in Gosford and was raised by her mother, Dot, and her father, John, who predeceased her.

She grew up alongside her brothers, Wally and Peter, and was known for her “vivacious spirit” and “mischievous” nature.

In her twenties, Wendy met and married her soulmate, Glen Archer.

The couple settled in Lake Cathie, a coastal town south of Port Macquarie, where they built a life filled with love and joy.

“Wendy and Glen’s greatest joy came in 1995, when they welcomed their son Jack into the world,” Ms Sampson said.

Wendy Archer with her son Jack.

“Jack was the light of Wendy’s life.”

The family faced a significant loss in 2009 when Glen passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack at the age of 48.

Wendy and the love of her life, Glen.

“She never fully recovered from losing him, and she never sought another partner — her love for Glen was that deep and lasting,” Ms Sampson said.

Wendy relocated to the Gold Coast with Jack, for work, before he started high school, leaving behind a close-knit community of friends, yet despite the move, Wendy’s warmth and humour quickly endeared her to new acquaintances.

“She was always the life of the room — full of cheek, laughter, and love,” Ms Sampson said.

“Wendy could make you laugh until your sides hurt, and she had the biggest, softest heart.

Wendy Archer, 63, lost her life in a car crash on the Pacific Highway near Byron Bay on June 13.

“Her fierce loyalty, her honesty, and her ability to love without limits made her unforgettable.

“She was truly one of a kind.”

A proud mum, she often spoke of her son with immense love and admiration.

Bali held a special place in Wendy’s heart. She cherished the culture, the people, and the local cats, dreaming of one day making it her home.

“Wendy was wild and free, brave and bold. She lived on her own terms. She showed up when it mattered, and she loved her people fiercely,”

Ms Sampson said Wendy leaves behind a community of friends and family whose lives were made better by her presence, and who now feel her absence like a heavy ache.

“She was a special soul. There will never be another Wendy.

“She was a wild, free spirit who lit up every room — now riding the skies with the love of her life,” Ms Sampson said.

Originally published as Wendy Archer remembered after crashing on Pacific Highway near Byron Bay after laying her father to rest