Jean Reesor

On August 31, 1921, David and Emma Murphy celebrated the birth of their daughter, Mary Jean. “Jean” grew up in a happy home, graduating from high school in 1939. After moving to Detroit, Michigan, she met and married George Reesor on December 7, 1940. Jean settled into her roles as wife and mother, roles she would focus on for the remaining 85 years of her life. Upon the death of her husband in 2009, Jean came to primarily live with her son, Victor at his home in Ellijay, Georgia and in the past three years, Stamford, Connecticut.

Jean Reesor was a faithful wife and devoted mother all her life. She came to faith in Jesus Christ early in her marriage and that faith became the foundation and cornerstone of her life to the very end. It was impossible for someone to meet Jean and not be addressed with the questions, “Do you know Jesus?” and “Does He live in your heart?”. She was a bold follower and disciple of Jesus, providing an example and inspiration to her entire family.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, George W. Reesor, in 2009 and then her daughter, Nancy Dee Petee, in 2024.

She is survived by her three sons: Bill, of Chattanooga, Tennessee (wife, Louise deceased), Larry of Darien, Connecticut (wife, Sharon), Victor of Stamford, Connecticut (single) along with six grandchildren, Robin (spouse, Bob of Cour d’Alene, Idaho), Stacy (Alpharetta, Georgia) and Tracy (spouse, Andrew of Ooltewah, Tennessee) all daughters of Bill, Landon (wife, Cristy) of Darien, CT, son of Larry, Craig (wife, Paula of Acworth, Georgia) and Jimmy (wife, Cindy of Marietta, Georgia) both sons of Nancy and fifteen great-grandchildren: Blake and Erin (Robin), Conor (Stacy), Hunter and Chase (Tracy), Lauren, Lawson, Layton, Logan, Lia and Lily (Landon), Auston (Craig) and Courtney, Ryan and Andrew (Jimmy).

We, her family, will miss her terribly but, as the Apostle Paul wrote in I Thessalonians 4:13-18, we do not grieve as those who do not have the hope of eternal life in Jesus Christ. We know Mom/Grandma is with God in perfect peace and surrounded by perfect love and that we will see her again someday, only that time without the prospect of any pain or suffering for all of eternity.

Her funeral will be held at the Chattanooga Funeral Home East Brainerd Chapel, on Monday, January 12 at noon followed by interment at the National Cemetery in Chattanooga, Tennessee at 2:00 PM. The funeral service will be livestreamed for those unable to attend (you can click "join livestream" under funeral service below).

Arrangements are by the East Brainerd Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, 8214 East Brainerd Rd., Chattanooga, TN 37421.

Please share your thoughts and memories at www.ChattanoogaEastBrainerdChapel.com.