Jean T. Brownell, 87, of Wilsonville, formerly of Haines and Baker City, died July 18, 2006, at an Oregon City hospital.
Her memorial service was Saturday at Marquis Care at Hope Village in Canby. A date and time for graveside inurnment at the Haines Cemetery will be scheduled later. Canby Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Jean was born on July 22, 1918, at Bend. She grew up near Richland, and graduated from Eagle Valley High School at Richland. She earned her teaching certificate at Eastern Oregon Normal School and a bachelor’s degree at Eastern Oregon State College (now Eastern Oregon University). Jean taught at Daily Creek School in Eagle Valley and at Muddy Creek School near Haines.
She met Edmund G. Brownell in 1941 at a PTA meeting. They were married on Nov. 8, 1942. After her youngest of five children reached first grade, Jean resumed her teaching career in 1960 where she taught for 22 years at various schools in Haines and Baker City.
Jean was Sunday school superintendent at the Haines Methodist Church for several years. She was also a 4-H leader where she shared her cooking and sewing skills. She was a longtime member of the Rebekah Lodge and the Rock Creek-Muddy Creek Mutual Improvement Club. She was a member of the United Methodist Church of Baker City and later a member of the United Methodist Church at Woodburn.
Jean was an avid quilter and reader. She loved spending time with her family camping and fishing and traveling with Edmund to see much of the United States. They spent 63 happy years together.
Survivors include her husband, Edmund G. Brownell of Wilsonville; four daughters, Sarajean Abel of Junction City, Patricia Kingman and her husband, Louis, of Wilsonville, Beverly Van Steinburg of Aurora, and Nancy Bradetich of Wilsonville; her son, Robert E. Brownell of Wilsonville; two sisters, Eleanor Otley of Corvallis and Sarabeth Barnes of Bloomington, Minn.; eight grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Martin and Clara Taylor; and a brother, Orson.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to the American Heart Association or the charity of one’s choice.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, August 4, 2006
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor
