Jeanne Blevins

1935 - 1992

October 10, 1935 - June 22, 1992

It's hard to believe that it's been 30 years since we lost you, Mom.

Born Betty Jean Allen in Phenix City, AL, Mom died in San Marcos, TX, far too early - at age 56 - after a valiant cancer battle. She married Don Blevins in Athens, Greece, in 1954. He was an airman; she was the daughter of C.G. & Juanita Allen. C.G. was the civilian head of support services for the American contingent. Dad started calling her Jeaniki (a Greek nickname), and she was known as Jeanne from that point on.

Dad survived Mom but passed away on April 19, 2014. Mom was survived by her children: David, Donna (Elvia), and Dennis (Alicia); granddaughter, Shawna (Brandy), whose mother, Terry (Allan), always held a special place in Mom's heart; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her mother and father.

Three grandchildren born after her death (Briella, Bethany, and Brendon) will never know the joy of having her as a grandmother, and we are all sad about that.

Mom was an artist. She would never call herself that, but she was. She could draw, paint, crochet, knit, embroider, sew, carve wood, and write. She was a great cook and baker, and she decorated cakes so beautifully that others asked her to teach them, especially during the time that we were stationed in Bitburg, Germany. After seeing how Mom painted our picture window for Christmas (so that it looked like stained glass when a lamp was placed behind it), other families asked her to paint theirs as well. She lit up the whole block.

A devoted military wife, she taught us the joy of travel and discovery. David was born in Tripoli, Libya; Donna in San Bernardino, CA; Dennis in San Marcos, TX -- a testament to the nomadic military life. And in that life, Dad was big on history, while Mom encouraged us to revel in different cultures, demanded that we respect the sacred beliefs of all religions, and found art everywhere we went.

Mom was the best Girl Scout Neighborhood Chairman when we lived in Naples, Italy, leading trips for the Scouts to Our Chalet in Adelboden, Switzerland; to a performance of Madame Butterfly in Naples' San Carlo Opera House; for an Easter audience in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, where she was blessed by Pope Paul VI; and so much more.

We lived in San Marcos twice -- from 1965-68 (Dad was stationed at the college ROTC unit), then permanently after Dad retired from the Air Force in 1972. In the 60s, Mom worked at the (Southwest Texas State) College Infirmary. Upon our return, Mom was the Welcome Wagon lady for a while because she never met a stranger and loved doing the write-ups for the local paper. She also worked at First Lutheran Church (where her crocheted Last Supper and Lord's Prayer still hang) and Community Action, where she was a staunch defender of the right to choose. Later she volunteered at the Convention & Visitor's Bureau. She also organized a reception for soldiers (such as her son, Dennis) who returned home after serving in Desert Storm and encouraged care packages and support letters for those who were in harm's way so far from home.

She simply wasn't here long enough; cancer robbed us of so much. But she is still with us - woven into the fabric of our lives. Here, 30 years later, we still miss her and wanted to make this tribute to mark this unbelievable anniversary.

Love you, Mom. Always.