Jean Marie Becker

With great sadness, the Becker family announces that Jean Marie Becker (Forsyth) passed away June 12, 2025 at the age of 90.

Jean was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey September 14, 1934 to Anna (Krauszer) and Russell Forsyth. Jean had a sister Betty Ann and a brother Russell, Jr.

In the early 1950s the space program brought the family to Brevard County. Her father, previously with the Air Force, began working for RCA at the Eastern Missile Test range at Patrick Air Force Base. The family resided in Rockledge, Florida.

Jean attended the University of Florida and met her future husband John via a car pool of local individuals traveling to and from the university. She graduated with a degree in education. Later in the 1970s Jean gained her Master's in Education from Stetson University in Deland, Florida.

Jean & John married in 1956 and moved to Lakeland, Florida. He worked as a chemist for the Virginia-Carolina Fertilizer Company while finishing his studies and graduating from Florida Southern University. She took up teaching there and that's when they had their 1st child, Patricia Marie in 1958. They moved back to the coast residing in Melbourne Beach where they had their 2nd daughter Barbara Jean in 1960 and son Bryan Glen in 1964.

She taught in the Brevard County school system for over 30 years; mainly at Indialantic Elementary and then at Gemini Elementary where she led the Gifted/Guided Studies Program. Early on in her career she volunteered for the Head Start Program which was located in the old Oleander Hotel along the river in Eau Gallie where Squid Lips is now.

Jean served briefly as Mayor of Melbourne Beach in the early 1980s. She was extensively involved with Eastminster Presbyterian Church with the family being members since 1968. Jean taught Sunday School, worked with other ladies of the church creating a parent handbook, wrote curriculum, and job descriptions for the preschool. Jean eventually became an Elder in the church, started the 1st church directory, maintained the flower chart for sanctuary flowers for each service, and did gardening for the Memorial Garden and surrounding fountain area. Eastminster was an important part of her and her family's life.

Jean is survived by her daughter Barbara (Edward) Struttmann; son Bryan; grandson Christopher (Caitlin) Struttmann and their three children Grayson, Charlotte, and Christopher, Jr.

Services for Jean will be held Saturday, June 28, 2025 at 10am at Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 106 N. Riverside Drive, Indialantic Florida. Her service will also be streamed live and be on YouTube.