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Jean Garner
1936 - 2020
BORN
October 10, 1936
DIED
November 27, 2020
Jean Garner
Oct. 10, 1936 - Nov. 27, 2020
Jean Rae Garner, 84, passed away peacefully on November 27, 2020, with family by her side. There will be a private Celebration of Life service at 3 p.m., Tuesday, December 1, that you are encouraged to watch via livestream on Grace Gardens Facebook page, and will later be uploaded to her obituary page on their website. Interment will be in McMahan, Texas.
Jean was born in Buda, TX, October 10, 1936, to David Clifton (Red) and Elsie Stephens. She spent her formative years in Angleton, Texas, where she excelled in high school tennis, basketball and track. Jean obtained her Bachelor's degree in Education from Texas State University and her Master's in Education from Baylor University.
Jean began her teaching career at Angleton ISD and Brazosport ISD. She was best known as as a physical education teacher for Midway ISD, serving in this capacity for 35 years. She developed a passion for physical education of children from which she inspired many students, athletes, and fellow teachers during her career. Jean's other great joys were being a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, tennis player, Lady Bears Basketball fan, bridge player, aerobics instructor, bunko player, garden club member, and a volunteer. Jean was highly involved in the Waco community and volunteered for many women and children's ministries. She served on the board of the Educator's Credit Union, and volunteered for Talitha Koum Institute, Christian Women's Job Corps, Light in the Gap ministry, and shared her faith through Discipleship Unlimited, a faith based program for incarcerated women in Gatesville, TX.
Jean's faith was the cornerstone of her life and she boldly shared her love of Jesus Christ with her family, friends and strangers. She was a member of First Baptist Woodway where she loved her ladies' Sunday School class and the special friendships there.
Jean was preceded in death by her husband, Ray Garner; her parents, Red and Elsie Stephens; and her brother, Larry Stephens. She is survived by her sister, Kay Bacon; daughters, Laura Diaz and husband, Louie, Holly Johnson and husband, Craig; grandchildren, Rachel Morehead, Rebecca Remmert and husband, Dillon, Benjamin Johnson, and Nicholas Johnson; and great-grandson, Lukas Remmert; nieces and nephews. Other special family members are Jean Ann Jangda, Carolyn Garner, Joan and Elizabeth Garner. Jean loved her many other family and friends. The family would like to thank Bluebonnet Hospice for their compassion and support.
In lieu of flowers, Jean's family asks you to make a donation to First Baptist Woodway's Local Missions, 101 N Ritchie Rd, Woodway, TX 76712, or Stilwell Retirement Residences, 5400 Laurel Lake Drive, Waco, TX 76710. The family invites you to leave a message or memory www.gracegardensfh.com
Oct. 10, 1936 - Nov. 27, 2020
Jean Rae Garner, 84, passed away peacefully on November 27, 2020, with family by her side. There will be a private Celebration of Life service at 3 p.m., Tuesday, December 1, that you are encouraged to watch via livestream on Grace Gardens Facebook page, and will later be uploaded to her obituary page on their website. Interment will be in McMahan, Texas.
Jean was born in Buda, TX, October 10, 1936, to David Clifton (Red) and Elsie Stephens. She spent her formative years in Angleton, Texas, where she excelled in high school tennis, basketball and track. Jean obtained her Bachelor's degree in Education from Texas State University and her Master's in Education from Baylor University.
Jean began her teaching career at Angleton ISD and Brazosport ISD. She was best known as as a physical education teacher for Midway ISD, serving in this capacity for 35 years. She developed a passion for physical education of children from which she inspired many students, athletes, and fellow teachers during her career. Jean's other great joys were being a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, tennis player, Lady Bears Basketball fan, bridge player, aerobics instructor, bunko player, garden club member, and a volunteer. Jean was highly involved in the Waco community and volunteered for many women and children's ministries. She served on the board of the Educator's Credit Union, and volunteered for Talitha Koum Institute, Christian Women's Job Corps, Light in the Gap ministry, and shared her faith through Discipleship Unlimited, a faith based program for incarcerated women in Gatesville, TX.
Jean's faith was the cornerstone of her life and she boldly shared her love of Jesus Christ with her family, friends and strangers. She was a member of First Baptist Woodway where she loved her ladies' Sunday School class and the special friendships there.
Jean was preceded in death by her husband, Ray Garner; her parents, Red and Elsie Stephens; and her brother, Larry Stephens. She is survived by her sister, Kay Bacon; daughters, Laura Diaz and husband, Louie, Holly Johnson and husband, Craig; grandchildren, Rachel Morehead, Rebecca Remmert and husband, Dillon, Benjamin Johnson, and Nicholas Johnson; and great-grandson, Lukas Remmert; nieces and nephews. Other special family members are Jean Ann Jangda, Carolyn Garner, Joan and Elizabeth Garner. Jean loved her many other family and friends. The family would like to thank Bluebonnet Hospice for their compassion and support.
In lieu of flowers, Jean's family asks you to make a donation to First Baptist Woodway's Local Missions, 101 N Ritchie Rd, Woodway, TX 76712, or Stilwell Retirement Residences, 5400 Laurel Lake Drive, Waco, TX 76710. The family invites you to leave a message or memory www.gracegardensfh.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit our Sympathy Store.
Published by Waco Tribune-Herald on Nov. 29, 2020.
MEMORIAL EVENTS
GUEST BOOK
4 Entries
So sorry for your loss family, & pray you will be blessed with peace and comfort. Jean was a precious friend for so many years. Loved her.
Twila Tapp
November 29, 2020
Laura and Holly and families, I grieve with you at the loss of one of the greatest women I´ve ever known. Jean was an inspiration to work with and I was always so astounded by her passion for teaching and the incredible amount of energy she had every day as a PE teacher. Her students loved her and would work so hard for her. Jean was a mentor to so many students and teachers and I considered her my mentor and friend. Oh how she will be missed but always fondly remembered by the many students she taught. What a servant for Christ Jean was. She will be greatly missed. My prayers for all of you at this time of enormous loss.
Denise Ballew
November 29, 2020
What a wonderful lady she was! My elementary school PE teacher, gave me tennis lessons and was a good friend to my Mom. Thank you, Mrs. Garner for all your support through the years.
Meredith Bishop Gryseels
November 29, 2020
"I´ll buy you tall tall trees and all the water in the seas. I´m a fool fool fool for you."
Every time I hear the words to this song, I´m transported back to South Bosque elementary PE class when we used to line dance to this song with Mrs Garner. I´m 33 years old so that was a longggg time ago. Such sweet memories with her in that school. Sending love to the family. She will
Be missed but not forgotten
Brittney (Conine) Duke
November 29, 2020