Jean Harper Blunt

Jean Harper Blunt, “Jeannie”, born June 15, 1926, in Cooper, Texas, peacefully went to be with her Lord and Savior, August 28, 2024. Born to Robert Jesse and Prudence Riley Harper, her growing years were spent primarily in Cooper, and later Mexia, Texas. She then attended and graduated from the University of North Texas. On June 14, 1947, shortly after her high-school sweetheart, Lewis Henry Blunt, Jr (Lew), returned from fighting in WWII, Jean and Lew were married in their hometown of Mexia. Subsequently, they moved to Houston Texas, where he was hired by the Texas Oil Co. (later called Texaco) and she worked as a secretary for the head of the Exxon oil corporation. Once she became a mother, she left her paid job to be a homemaker and raise three daughters in Houston before returning to Mexia when Lew retired. Upon her husband’s death, her final years were spent in the Dallas area with her three daughters’ families.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Prudence Harper, her husband, Lewis Henry Blunt, Jr., her sister, Joy Harper of Newport Beach, CA,, and her granddaughter, Kristina Anne Swygert, of Dallas, TX. She is survived by her three daughters and their spouses, Ann Holford of Dallas, and her husband, Neal; Lynn Swygert of Dallas and her husband, Thomas; and Ellen McCrary, of Rowlett and her husband, John; 8 grandchildren: Will Holford and wife Kim, Kathryn Dempsey and husband Todd, Caroline Revard and husband Duke, Stephanie Hunnicutt and husband Brian, Anna McCrary, Jonathan Swygert and wife Augusta Hoffman, Ben McCrary and fiancé Bethany, and Katherine Givens and husband David. She is also survived by 12 great grandchildren, soon to be 13, along with many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Family was of great importance to Jeannie, and she always put their needs above her own. Jean greeted those she loved with cheerfulness and enthusiasm, and was always interested in what her grandchildren and great grandchildren were doing, and made you feel like you were very important and special.

Growing up in Cooper, Jean loved to play with her cousin, Gloria, and older sister, Joy. Jean was particularly good at “jacks”, “tiddlywinks “, “paddle ball”, and “jump rope”. While in high school, she won the state championship in typing. During her time as a mother in Houston, she was the pianist for all the children’s choirs at St Andrews Presbyterian Church, where the family attended. Jean was an excellent seamstress, and made the great majority of all the girls’ clothes, from kindergarten on, including prom dresses, and then their wedding dress, which was changed and altered for each daughter. The veil she made has been worn by several granddaughters in their weddings, including recently in July ‘24.

During their early retirement years, Jean and Lew loved to travel, making over 100 trips to Europe, several to Canada, and dozens to Las Vegas. They had a blast. Jean was known for her superb detailed memory, being able to tell you the names of many of the restaurants they visited in Europe, including what they ordered. She was also known at family gatherings for making the best cornbread dressing, yeast-risen rolls, blackberry cobbler, and at Christmas, giant yeast-risen homemade cinnamon sweet rolls in the shape of Christmas trees for all of her children and their families. It was an annual tradition for over 50 years. While her cooking will be missed, Jean will be especially remembered at Christmas when her grandchildren will decorate their trees with the intricate ornaments she made and gave each of them for over 30 years.

A few other random facts about Jeannie:

• She only wore skirts or dresses; in her later years she was known for always wearing an outfit that coordinated: skirt, top, sweater, and scarf- always.
• She learned how to knit in her mid 80s; taught by her granddaughter, Jean knitted several hundred scarves over a few years.
• She was often called the “grammar police “. You could not get by using incorrect grammar without her calling you out on it.
• She was a woman of principles and integrity- she taught her children you could do anything you set your mind to doing if you persevere and never give up.
• She was known for her love of playing games- Yahtzee, Skip-Bo and Rummy tiles were some of her favorites. She usually won. If there wasn’t a person with whom to play a board game , she dominated word games on her iPad. Her mind was sharp to the day she died.

And last, but certainly not least: she loved the Lord with all of her being, and she did her best to live a Christian life, and to be an example of Christ’s love to those around her. She will be greatly missed by those who knew her.

A memorial service is planned for Monday, September 9, 2024, at 11:00 am at Watermark Community Church , 7540 Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway, Dallas, TX 75251. All are welcome to attend.