Jean Kathryn Mark

MARK -Jean KathrynJohnsonMark, 81,passed awaySeptember 11,2008.Mrs. Mark taught at John Gorrie,Kirby Smith and Englewood, H.S.then became Dean of Girls andAssistant Principal at Landon Jr.High where she remained untilretiring in 1986, after 34 years ofservice in Duval County Schools.Jean was the third daughter offour children born to ClarenceTraylor Johnson and JessieGranade Wilson Johnson, inTrenton, FL, September 26, 1926.She grew up in Alachua, FL andearned her B.S. in Education atFlorida State University. Aftermoving to Jacksonville with herhusband, she attended graduateschool in Gainesville at night toearn her M.A. in EducationAdministration from the Universityof Florida. Jean was a member ofthe Phi Kappi Phi and Kappa DeltaPi Honor Societies. A passionateeducator, she always modeled theimportance and joy of learning.In 1969 Mrs. Mark was awardedthe Red Cross Life-Saving Awardand the North Jacksonville CivitanClub Honor Award for pulling A.J."Joe" Powers (then age 3) from avery muddy tributary of PottsbergCreek. Jean jumped into the waterwithout hesitation. She sank deepinto the mud but was able to pullthe young boy to safety and administeredartificial respiration, savinghis life.Jean Mark was widowed in 1972with 3 children under the age of 7,and worked constantly to providefor them."Bambi," as she was known toher grandchildren and great-grandchildren,was very ill in her lateryears, but she always brightenedwhen her two youngest local grandchildren,Jacob and Jonas, wouldvisit her. Jean was a loving, respectful,devoted daughter, sister, wife,mother, grandmother, greatgrandmother,friend, and educator. Sheloved to fish with her family andwas a die-hard Gator and Jaguarfan. Her sunshine and wise counselwill be sorely missed by her family.Mrs. Mark was preceded in deathby her loving husband, SiegfriedJohn Mark; her parents, Clarenceand Jessie Johnson; and two sisters,Betty Johnson Rogers and HelenJohnson Teel. She is survived byher brother, The Honorable JudgeClarence T. Johnson, Jr., retired, ofMerritt Island; two sons, John Markand James Mark of Jacksonville;two daughters, Janet Krews ofGainesville, FL, and Jessie AnnPeeples of Florence, AL; ninegrandchildren, four great grandchildren,and numerous nieces andnephews.In lieu of flowers please considera donation to the Alzheimer’sAssociation, 2123 Mango Place,Jacksonville, FL 32207.Visitation will be held at Corey-Kerlin Funeral Home on Cesery(744-8422) Wednesday eveningand there will be a graveside servicein Greenlawn CemeteryThursday morning at 10:00am.