Nelda Imogene Boys was born July 20, 1925 in Herman, Knox County, IL, the second child of Andrew Jackson Swank and Esther Fern (Sims) Swank. "Jean" died at 4:50 P.M. Thursday (March 19, 2020) at University Rehab, Urbana.
Jean and her older sister Marna spent much of their childhood growing up in the Deland area and Urbana, IL, in the care of their grandparents, Albert and Imogene Sims. She attended school in Urbana, including Thornburn Jr. High. On February 21, 1942 Jean married William Earl Boys in Missouri. They lived briefly in Texas when Bill served in the military; Jean returned to IL when Bill was called to active duty. Together they raised six children in Cook and DuPage counties.
On March 15, 1953 Jean was baptized as one of Jehovah's Christian Witnesses. She was comforted by learning Bible prophesies of an end to suffering, the hope of a resurrection and Paradise being restored to the earth. She delighted in reading and studying the Bible and sharing her hope in God's promises with others. Revelation 21:3, 4 was a favorite passage.
Her youngest son Richard died in 1977. Husband Bill died in 1983. Survivors include children Joyce and Ronald, in IL; Charles, in PA; Terri and Linda, in FL; sister Marna and niece Juanita (Robert) Licko, in AZ. Also surviving are 14 grandchildren, 31 great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren. Other survivors include Jean's many spiritual friends. All express their appreciation for the caring staffs of Prairie Winds, Carle Hospital, U Rehab and Harbor Light Hospice.
Cremation rites have been accorded by Renner-Wikoff, Urbana. A memorial service via Zoom will be held at 11 A.M. (CST) on May 16th. Private burial will be at Chapel Hill Gardens West, Oakbrook Terrace, IL.
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