Jean Lorine Layne Houseman

Jean Lorine Layne Houseman died at the age of 79 on December 11, 2010 after a long illness. She grew up in the farming community of Speegleville in McClennan County, and graduated from high school in nearby Waco High in 1949.

Jean was a farmer's daughter. Her father, William Homer Layne, was a truck farmer when she was a child, and he sold vegetables to Piggly Wiggly Grocers in Waco. Her mother, Lorine Dillard Layne, was an excellent cook and as a result, Jean grew up liking all kinds of vegetables, including broccoli, cauliflower, and turnips. She also learned to play the piano as a child, and could improvise the accompaniment to any hymn in the hymnal. Jean had an older brother, Jack, who helped his dad on the farm and later was a WWII fighter pilot who survived the war to become a CPA. He worked for many years at Pioneer Savings and Loan in Waco.

Jean met John Houseman at the Sun Pool on Labor Day in 1951. John was an Air Force Lieutenant who was stationed at James Connally Air Force Base in Waco when he met the fetching Jean. They were married on October 16, 1951. A daughter, Jill, was born the next year who would be their only child. Much later, Jean would dote on Jill's children, Joy and George.

After Jean and John were married, they moved to Biloxi, Mississippi and then to Rapid City, South Dakota. John left the Air Force so the couple could raise their daughter in Jean's home state of Texas. Most of Jill's childhood was spent in Waco near to where her mother grew up. John worked for KWTX-TV as an engineer while Jean stayed home and raised their daughter.

Jean is survived by her spouse, John Houseman; her daughter and son-in-law, Jill and Bert Geeslin; her granddaughter and grandson-in-law, Joy and Trip Gollihar; and her grandson, George Geeslin.

The family will receive friends at a visitation from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Monday, December 13, 2010, at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 5701 Highway 277 South, Abilene, Texas. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 14, 2010, at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home Chapel of Faith, Abilene, Texas, with Dr. Jeff Reid officiating. Interment will be at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 15, 2010, in Waco Memorial Park, 6623 South Interstate 35, Waco, Texas, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home.

You may view and sign the guestbook at www.elliott-hamil.com.