| Graduation Year | Class of 1961 |
| Date of Passing | Jan 03, 2016 |
| About | She was my sister, best friend and confidant. I was a year and 17 days old when she came into my life, so I don't remember life without her. We grew up almost like twins and I never expected to see the bookends of her life. She loved Jesus Christ and showed that love by being kind with everyone she met. Neither did the scriptures sit idly on her bookshelf. She and her first husband, Larry Kinnett, adopted two children: Christine, and Andrew. Christine preceded her in death. Two more children, Ricky and Anthony, would come via her second husband, Richard Segura. Ricky is her only natural born child. After Richard's death in a car crash, Jean adopted Anthony as an infant from one of Richard's relatives who didn't have the means to care for him. Finally, she met and married Merrill Jewkes. She and he were kindred spirits in their love for the gospel of Jesus Christ. They met in a somewhat unusual fashion. Christine and Jennifer (Merrill's daughter) worked at the same place. They met and got acquainted and became good friends. One day, in the course of conversation Christine lamented about how her mother really needed a husband. Instantly, Jennifer piped up and said that her father really needed a wife. They concocted a plan, which was successful, and got Jean and Merrill together. Merrill was favorably impressed right away and, within a day or two, asked Jean to marry him. She hesitated for two weeks and finally said 'yes'. Merrill treated her so well that she never looked back. Merrill had worked in the mines for so long that he had black lung disease. But for several years he was well enough that everyday was a happy one for both of them. Finally, the disease began to rob him of his strength. Shortly after he became hospital-bound, Jean was by his bedside when he died. On 03 January 2016 it was Jean's turn. I miss her terribly. Many have been the times I've thought to myself, "I need to call Jean and ask her or tell her about (whatever)" Then a moment of sadness falls over me when I realize that I can't do that anymore. But at the same time I'm happy for her, realizing that she's not in anymore pain from her degenerating spine condition, and she's happy being with a crowd of friends and relative that are also there. Robert Lee Sisk, Jr. MHS class of 1959 |
