Jenna Harper Ashby

Jenna Harper Ashby, age 82, of Conroe, Texas, passed away peacefully the morning of Sunday, January 5, 2020, surrounded by loved ones. She was born in the Harper Community of Rusk County, Texas to Arthur Rade Harper and Hilda Grace Compton on August 28, 1937, and grew up in Minden, Texas. Jenna graduated from Henderson High School in 1955, and then graduated from business school in Tyler.

Jenna married Robert Earl "Bob" Ashby in June 1961 in Houston and had their only child, Daray Lynn, in September 1962. Jenna worked as an executive assistant at various companies including Walker & Associates and Smith International in Houston, before retiring from Martin Brower in Conroe. She and Bob lived most of their married life in Houston before moving to Lake Conroe in 1985.

Soon after Bob died in 2009, Jenna joined the YMCA in Conroe to continue her recovery from hip replacement surgery. It was in her Silver Sneakers class that she made some wonderful new friends. These ladies encourage and routinely check on one another outside of class. She intended to attend for a few months but happily stayed until she was stricken with Shingles in February 2018. Her YMCA family rallied around her by calling daily, bringing her meals, sending her encouraging cards, and praying for her. Although the virus healed, the severe nerve pain remained and her memory began to decline significantly. It was during this time that she was formally diagnosed with dementia which quickly progressed.

In October 2018, Jenna moved from her home in Panorama Village to Woodhaven Village for assisted living and then memory care. She was well cared for by a wonderful staff who loved her and treated her with much respect. Those caregivers, along with her hospice team, ministered to not only Jenna but also to her family as well. As difficult as it was for the past 14 months, she was comfortable and at peace which gave great comfort to all who loved her.

Jenna is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Bob, and siblings Faustine Gayle Harper, Jeanne Harper Anderson (JT), Bob Harper (Nell), and Don Harper. Two cousins that she grew up with and loved as sisters, Joy Hunt Hamilton and Jay Nell Hunt Smith, were also waiting for her in Heaven. No doubt she is now healthy in mind and body and celebrating the amazing reunion with her Savior and the many loved ones that she had missed so much.

She is survived by her daughter Daray Ashby Heard and husband Jeff, their children Ashley, Zachary, Joshua and Christopher, together with stepchildren Sherry Pflaum (Tom), Vicki Gibson and Randy McMullin (Linda), and various loving step grandchildren and great grandchildren, nieces Becky Anderson Russell and Karen Harper Parker and nephews including Ronnie Rhone. She will also be greatly missed by her special friends Earlene, Lillian, and several dear neighbors.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on January 30th from 12:00 – 2:00 at the YMCA on 10245 Owen Street in Conroe, TX 77304. Interment will be a close family-only event later.

Please visit www.casnerconroe.com to leave her family a condolence or to share a fond memory.