Jean Day Power

On June 30, 2022, Jean Day Power, formerly of Longmont and Greeley, Colorado, passed away in Annapolis, Maryland after a long, productive life at the tender age of 97. She was born April 6, 1925, to Kathleen Elizabeth Kingsbury and Horace Lafayette Day. After Jean lost her father and younger brother, Buddy, before she was 5 years old, her mother went to work for the Weld County Courthouse in Greeley, Colorado. Jean’s grandmother Pearl Belle Kingsbury, her beloved Uncle John Andrew “Jack” Kingsbury, and her Great Aunt Daisy Eldon Noel helped care for Jean. She spent many wonderful weekends and summer vacations on Aunt Daisy and Uncle Roy’s farm near LaSalle, Colorado.

Jean graduated from Greeley High School in 1943 and attended the University of Colorado. In 1944 she moved to Longmont with her mother, Kathleen Kingsbury Day Evans, and stepfather William Harry Evans. Jean worked for the Ration Board, Firestone Tires, and Colorado Brick. Jean and her husband were co-owners of Power Investment and Finance from 1969 to 1983 – an insurance and loan business that had been in Elmer’s family since 1921. Jean was a licensed home and auto insurance agent and well-liked by their customers.

She met her husband Elmer Wood Power, Jr. at Sunset Golf Course in Longmont, Colorado. They married in 1946, had two children, and became an avid golfing family. She was a member of the Sunset Ladies Golf Club and delighted in teaching her grandchildren how to play golf. Jean and Elmer were also known for “really cutting a rug” at the M & M Dance Club in Berthoud, dancing to Big Band Music of the 1940s. They also went to the Elitches Trocadero Ballroom to dance to the music of the Dorsey Brothers, and other “Big Band” touring groups.

Jean was a cub scout den mother and brownie scout leader and very active with the First Congregational Church and the Longmont Humane Society. She played in two ladies’ bridge groups, was a member of PEO Chapter DI, painted marvelous oil paintings of the Rocky Mountains and southwestern landscapes, and was an avid gardener with a special love for roses, sewing, re-upholstering and refinishing furniture. She also loved to cook and entertain family and friends. Their Sixth Avenue house often hosted large Thanksgiving dinners.

Jean loved their family dogs: Spot – who broke up fights; Mr. Bones – who went to school, grinned, and caused a bit of a ruckus at the pound; Ms. Fluffy - the nurse with lovely table manners; and Cubby II - the Scottish Terrier who ran the place. She later had two cats – Brother and Sister, who adopted Jean and then decided to move in with her. Brother was the consoling one who would pat Jean’s face with his paw.

Jean had an incredible love and appreciation for her friends and family, and a passion for golf that showed through her skills on the course. Perhaps most notably, Jean and a friend went to Scotland and played the Old Course at St. Andrews. They had to submit proof of their 18-hole handicaps in advance, and as both were very good golfers, they were accepted to play one of the most iconic golf courses in the world. What an honor and experience! Spirit Jean is challenging other family members to do this too…. perhaps one or more of her grand or great grandkids will follow in her golf steps.

Oh, and there was the time when she was 8-9 months pregnant with their first child… she and Elmer were playing 9 holes… and she won… Elmer said she was just lucky… she replied (something to the effect) that it was her straight drives and fairway shots, approaches, and excellent putting… he didn’t speak to her for a week! (Note: Elmer had been club champion four times.)

And the time she broke par at Sunset… Elmer sold her clubs… said he was getting her a better set… Jean was livid… she probably did not speak to him for a week. And so goes their games of golf … they managed to stay and play golf together for many more years!

Jean was a fifth generation Coloradoan, with ancestors who were early miners (the McMillen Brothers in Leadville and Silver City), pioneers, farmers, ranchers, and cowboys in Northern Colorado. Jean shared the stories about her grandfather, John C. “Jack” Kingsbury, who hosted some of the first Spud rodeos and was sought after for his water knowledge and experience in constructing irrigation ditches and Northern Colorado reservoirs. He was also a water-dowser and could tell where groundwater could be found based on geology and land formations. Jean’s great-grandfather Andrew “Andy” McMillen developed the irrigation ditch head gate and was responsible for introducing alfalfa to Northeastern Colorado farmers.

Many of her family members have served in the U.S. military – from WWI U.S. Navy, WWII U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Air Force. More recently, Jean’s daughter, son-in-law, and a grandson were/are active duty Naval officers.

Jean was the family historian and has passed the torch to her daughter. The two of them set up an Ancestry account in 2013 and were able to document many of Jean’s stories about her Callahan, Kingsbury, and McMillen families through Census reports, news clippings, and other sources. They were delighted to find Cherokee, Choctaw, Creek, and Osage among Jean’s Callahan ancestors!

Jean moved into Beatrice Hover while her Kiteley house was being readied for sale and sold in September 2020. In November 2020 Jean moved to Annapolis, Maryland to be near her daughter and family. Jean enjoyed making friends at Beatrice Hover, and then again in Annapolis at the historic Atria Manresa and Sunrise of Annapolis. She also spent a few months living with her daughter, son-in-law, and funny cat Jade. These were all very special times, even during the pandemic.

Jean is survived by her beloved children Karen (and Rick) Elliott, and John (and Maria) Power; three wonderful grandchildren Scott (and Mary) Elliott, Kelley (and Joe) Suhre, and Jeffrey Elliott, and a delightful step-grandson, Jeremy Garwood; plus three adorable great-grandchildren Wesley, Stevie, and Owen; first cousin Kent (and Nora) Kingsbury; nieces Margaret (and Jack) Stunkel, Kathy (and Kim) Means, and Joan (and Mike) Laden.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.howemortuary.com for the Day Power family.