Services for Jean Gilles Dean, 77, of Midland, Texas, will begin on Friday, Oct. 7, 2016, at 11 a.m. with graveside services conducted in Denver City Cemetery. Memorial services will follow at 3:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church Chapel, Midland. Visitation will be on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home, Midland.
Jean Dean, wife, mother, grandmother, sister, teacher, photographer, quilter, and friend, passed away on Oct. 3, 2016, in the arms of her loving husband, Harild Ray Dean in Midland, Texas. Jean had been diagnosed with CLL (chronic lymphocytic leukemia) in 2002. She allowed it to limit her as little as possible.
Born March 13, 1939, in Amarillo, Texas, to Allen and Adelle Grisham, Jean was the first of four children. Her family moved four times until her father opened the A&A Feed Store in Lovington, N.M. Jean attended schools in Ranchville, Floyd, and Portales, N.M., graduating in 1957 from Lovington High School. Jean received a BA and an M.Edu from Eastern New Mexico University. Her life-long leadership skills were demonstrated by her serving as the State President of the Baptist Student Union there and as a summer missionary in Hawaii and in San Francisco, Calif. She also studied in Europe, at Texas Tech, Florida State and Master Teacher in Manhattan, Kan.
Jean spent two years working for G and G Well Service in Denver City where she helped develop an innovative training program for the employees. After retiring, Jean moved to Lubbock, where she focused on taking care of her mother and on learning to make quilts. She moved from teaching math and history in her school classroom to teaching the math and history of quilting to children, teens and adults all over West Texas. Jean taught school in Lovington, Midland, Denver City, Brownfield and the College of the Southwest, completing a total of 30 years of teaching.
On March 13, 1997, she made one guy a very happy man. She and Harild were married in the Chapel at Ransom Canyon in Lubbock County. They moved to Midland in 1998. She instantly became a stepmother of three, mother-in-law, and honorary grandmother of two and eventually grandmother to two more. In 1997, Jean was invited to attend a meeting of eight women who were interested in creating what has become known as the Ogallala Quilters Society. Their goal was to foster high standards of design, color, and workmanship in quilting, teach the art of quilting and to preserve our quilting heritage. From this meeting, the Ogallala Quilters Festival became the heart of their mission and next spring will celebrate its 20th anniversary in Dimmitt, Texas, an accomplishment which made her very proud.
Jean was a gift to our hearts, a friend to our spirit and a golden thread to the meaning of life.
Jean is survived by her husband, Harild R. Dean of Midland; daughter, Stephanie Dean Parker of Denver City; sons, Dolan H. Dean of Hereford and Brian J. Dean (wife Suzanne) of Lubbock; sisters, Allene Gilliam (husband Ron) of Lubbock, and JoDell Ricker (husband Paul) of Sandy, Ore.; brother, Bill Grisham (wife Patti) of Artesia, N.M.; grandchildren, Whitney Parker, Jacob Parker, Harrison Dean and Madelyn Dean all of Lubbock; and many loved nieces and nephews. Jean is preceded in death by her parents, Allen and Adelle Grisham, and her son-in-law, Terry Parker. Donations in her memory are suggested to the Leukemia Society or the charity of your choice
. Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com.
