Jean Pagel Wier

Jean Pagel Wier, 82, former Permian teacher, died Thursday, June 2, 2011 at Odessa Hospice House. Jean was born September 21, 1928 in Cotulla, Texas to the late Mr. and Mrs. Louis Albert Pagel. Jean grew up in Cotulla Texas, a place she loved and felt a connection to her entire life, returning as often as possible and maintaining lifelong friendships from her childhood. After skipping several grades and graduating from high school at 16, she attended Southwest Texas State Teachers College in San Marcos where she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in physical education. She started her teaching career in Crystal City, Texas and later moved on to teach P.E. at William Adams High School in Alice, Texas. While teaching in Alice, she met and later married her husband, John Philip “Buddy” Wier on June 6, 1953. In 1961 Jean began teaching P.E. at Permian High School and later taught Health. In 1979 she earned her Master of Arts Degree from UTPB and counseled students at Ector, Odessa High, Bonham, and finally returning to Permian. She was selected as a member of the Teacher Hall of Fame in 1961, Permian Favorite Teacher of the Year in 1971, and in 2010 was the second person to receive an honorary “black shirt,” a recognition bestowed to a select few teachers who have provided significant service to Permian. For many who knew her, Jean embodied the spirit of Mojo. She was head of the Health and PE departments, senior class sponsor, senior assembly sponsor, student council sponsor, band sponsor, intramural coach and band booster. One of her favorite memories was co-sponsoring the Permian Pepettes with her friends Alice Jeffers and M’Liss Schneider in the 1970’s. Together they travelled many miles supporting the Mojo football team and impacted the lives of many PHS girls. She considered many of her Permian faculty friends her closest and dearest. After retiring in 1993, Jean remained active in the schools as a volunteer and part-time counselor. She was also active as a volunteer with Meals on Wheels, a member of the Odessa Contemporary Garden Club, serving as its president, the Odessa Women’s Forum, serving as its president, a member of St. Barnabas Women’s Book Study, and active in Ector County Retired Teachers Association. She was inducted into the Daughters of King of the Episcopal Church, and was proud of her profound commitment to serve God. She was preceded in death by her husband, Buddy; her mother and father, Jen and Louis Pagel; and her beloved sister Virginia Ann Pagel. Jean is survived by her sons Jim Dave Wier of Odessa and John Philip Wier, Jr. of Dallas. She is also survived by seven nieces and nephews, many great and great-great nieces and nephews and an extended family of close friends who looked to her as a surrogate mother and grandmother. Visitation will be held from 5pm to 8pm Friday, June 3 at Frank Wilson Funeral Home in Odessa. A celebration of her life will be held at 2pm on Saturday, June 4 at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Odessa, with Father David Mossbarger presiding. An interment ceremony will be held at 2pm on Monday, June 6 in Cotulla, Texas. Honorary pall bearers include Myron Schneider, Steve Brown, John Wilkins, Leldon Hensley, Gene McCanlies, Jay Cox, Paul Brown, Jim Pritchard, Gil Bartosh, Richard Dobie and Bobby Byars. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to Odessa Hospice House, 903 N. Sam Houston, Odessa, Texas 79761 or to St. Barnabas Episcopal Church. Services are entrusted to Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors.