Betty “Jean” Harper (1932-2018) passed into the loving arms and the sanctuary of her savior Jesus Christ on Thursday, January 3rd, 2019 at Vitas Inpatient Hospice Health Care facility in Lecanto, Florida following an eight month illness. She was born October 10th, 1932 in Veedersburg, Indiana.
She was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Marcia, and her husband, Joe Harper, who passed in 1991. She was further preceded in death by her mother, Mary Lowe, and her father, Blythe Lowe, both of Veedersburg, Indiana. She was the youngest of five siblings, preceded in death by two brothers, Carl Lowe and Leon Lowe, and also two sisters, Mary Lou Hinote and Clara Snyder. She is survived by her two sons, Steven of Lecanto, Florida and his wife Kay (Beasley), and Scott of Sarasota, Florida and his wife Darla (Campbell).
Jean graduated from Veedersburg High School in 1950. She was an avid member of a euchre club many years ago. She loved to tell detailed stories to regale any who were lucky enough to listen. Growing up in the Depression-era 1930s she would recount fascinating stories of her mother (with Jean at her side) serving up plates of food to hobos “riding the rails” on the trains that passed within 50 yards of the Lowe/Stephens home.
Jean was a previous long-time member of the Sterling Christian Church from the 1960s to the 1980s prior to transferring her membership to a Christian church in Spring Hill, Florida. Jean Harper worked in education a great portion of her adult life, beginning in the Fountain County (Indiana) School System at Southeast Fountain Elementary as a teacher’s aide from 1970-1978.
Jean started her work career in her 20’s working as a doctor’s secretary in Veedersburg and then as a clerk in Indianapolis. Following her move in the 1980’s to Florida with her husband and to be close to family, Jean worked at Eastside Elementary in Hernando County as an instructional aide for many years. She also worked at Nature Coast High School in Hernando County as a media center aide and as a computer school aide during the last years of her life. She was continually busy in her life, going to work every day until she was 85 years old, not wanting to miss a day from school. Many of the students who came into contact with Jean fondly called her “Grandma.”
Jean’s passion throughout her life was doting on her grandchildren, Jonathon Harper (Christina) of Miami, Florida; Lauren Torres (Leo) of Sarasota, Florida; and Bailee Harper of New York City, New York. Jean avidly collected Beanie Babies and dolls and collectable toys for her grandkids. She never missed a baseball game or a softball practice or a ballet recital for her grandkids, driving endless miles to see them perform. Later in her life she reveled in her great grandchildren, Madison (Miami) and Jacob (Sarasota).
Jean had a passion for watching Chicago Cubs baseball games, Duke University basketball games, and Notre Dame University football games. She also had a passion to view sunsets on the beach, often traveling just to see sunsets in Hernando County, Sarasota, Citrus County, Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, St. Pete Beach, and St. Augustine Beach.
Following her marriage to her husband Joe in 1955 at age 24, she led a life as a military bride for 23 years through 3 conflicts: World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. She moved from South Carolina to California to North Carolina to Illinois to Wisconsin to support her active military husband.
Jean will be laid to rest next to her husband at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida.
There will be a brief, one hour visitation scheduled at Chas E. Davis Funeral Home in Inverness on Saturday, January 12th from 2:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m.
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