Doris "Jean" Woolery

Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend Doris "Jean" Woolery, 91, died Nov. 1, 2025, at her home in Branson, MO.
A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, November 25, at the Branson United Methodist Church.
Jean was born January 16, 1934, to Edward and Esther (Noland) Lowe of Mullinville, KS, where she met the love of her life, David Ray Woolery. They married June 20, 1953, after she first attended Emporia State University while he played football and basketball at York College in Nebraska. The young newlyweds planned to obtain their teaching degrees together at Fort Hays State and then venture to Europe to teach. However, Jean was soon pregnant with their first daughter and had to complete her two-year certificate with correspondence courses. She did, however, start her teaching career at a one-room country school with no running water -- and a handful of students speaking limited English -- sometimes bringing her baby with her.
By the time their second daughter was born, Dave was teaching and coaching in Holyrood, KS, but was then recruited to a 30-year career with Southwestern Bell Telephone, first in Topeka, KS, where their third daughter was born. Jean persisted in pursuing her education degree, picking up classes in each Kansas town wherever they moved with Dave's frequent promotions. She eventually graduated from Wichita State University and loved teaching third grade there -- even at a time when racial tensions led to demonstrations at the school at one point.
With another move back to Topeka, Jean did some substitute teaching but ended up managing an H & R Block office for six years. She was active with A.A.U.W., P.E.O., and enjoyed volunteering at the VA Hospital. There Jean also learned to join Dave in his fishing outings, even helping buy a boat to keep their teenage girls occupied and supervised. Her zest for adventure and learning took her to all 50 states, eight foreign countries and eventually two separate skydiving outings with some of her grandchildren. As she encouraged them with their educational and vocational goals, she would always balance that with, "But what are you doing for fun?'
The Woolerys pursued their longtime dream of lakeside living, moving to Branson in 1987, where they ran Woolery Auction Service and hosted hundreds of guests in their home through the decades. Jean volunteered for nine years with Hospice and also dedicated time at Skaggs Hospital, the League of Women Voters and Christian Action Ministries. At the Branson United Methodist Church she spent years working at the thrift shop, lovingly served on various committees and always seemed ready to lead a devotion for the women's ministry.
Jean loved her Branson P.E.O. chapter, where she served as president among other offices, and only recently gave up attending as her health declined. Whatever setbacks or pivots life presented, she would always try to choose joy, advising, "You just have to be flexible, and cheerfully so!" In all her jobs and community service through the years, her love for God and people and heart to serve them was apparent.
Jean was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a sister, Lila Joan Ross Goth, of Sequim, WA; a son-in-law, Barry Rossheim of Venice, FL; and a nephew, Mark Ross of San Antonio.
She is survived by her daughters, Lana Woolery of Overland Park, KS; Marsha (Phil) Lilley of Branson, and Shala Rossheim of Venice, FL; granddaughters Sara (Josh) Clark of Olathe, KS, and Megan (Jimmy) Cummings of Rogers, AR ; grandsons, Dave (fiancée Anna) Rossheim of Plymouth, MI, Matt Rossheim of Fort Worth, Caleb (Maggie) Lilley of Beverly, MA, and Greg Lilley of Branson; a niece, Cyndy (Michael Witkin) Ross of Sequim, WA; a nephew, Steve (Julie) Ross of N.Y.C., N.Y, and nine great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Christian Action Ministries, 2400 Highway 165, Branson, MO, (https://wl.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E358532&id=119) or to the scholarship fund for P.E.O. Chapter JR, 274 Siena Blvd., Branson, MO, 65 616.
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