Jeaneen Felciano

Jeaneen Felciano (Gers), a larger-than-life personality, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully on July 13th,2025. She left behind a legacy of love, laughter, and a glowing presence never to be forgotten.

Born on April 22nd, 1936, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to Harlow John Gers and Sierra Nevada Gers, Jeaneen was raised in a generous, fun-loving, and well-known family. She was a proud alumnus of Oklahoma University, as well as the Pasadena Playhouse in California where she was sponsored by Bope Hope to pursue her love of acting, dancing, and modeling. Jeaneen held the title of Miss Oklahoma and was OKC Rodeo Queen three years in a row.

Just as Jeaneen’s acting career was taking off, she met a young military pilot, Frank, who swept her off her feet. They quickly married and traveled the world together, raising a family as he served in the United States Airforce. They lived in many places such as London and Germany and eventually ended up settling in Arizona where Jeaneen continued her artistic passions by writing, directing, and choreographing many performances for the Officers and Military Wives Clubs.

Along with being naturally talented, Jeaneen was also an avid athlete. She followed her four older brothers— PGA golfers— in their passion for golf, and she herself played in many women’s groups with an impressive handicap. She would later become the Tucson PGA and LPGA press-room coordinator where she would meet and befriend many famous stars, musicians, and athletes.

As Frank climbed the ranks, Jeaneen dedicated herself as a mother, grandmother, and later a great grandmother, and loved to cook, clean, decorate, host parties, and care for her loved ones, while also balancing an exciting social life as a Colonel and Base Commander’s wife. Together, her and Frank would love and raise many generations of children over the years.

And finally, Jeaneen’s greatest passion was for all things living— humans, plants, and especially animals. Having grown up on a farm, Jeaneen was no stranger to caring for four-legged friends, and she often spoke adoringly about her horses, her pigs, and her childhood pet-skunk named Flower. Later, she homed and fostered many animals, and it was often joked that she loved them more than she could any human.

In her golden years, she was often spotted outside playing with her dogs, watering plants, and feeding the birds and other wildlife. She loved nature and the peace it brought her. Here spirit was bright even until the end.

Jeaneen is survived by her children and their spouses: Randy Felciano and wife Peggy (Boge), and Gedi Phillips (Felciano) and husband Ryan Phillips. Her cherished grandchildren include Diana Phelan (Barrett) and husband Jeff Phelan, Michael Barrett, Nicole Thomas (Felciano) and husband Mark Thomas, and Jennifer Felciano; and her great-grandchildren: Abigail Phillips, Brandon Phillips, Grace Thomas, and Jacob Thomas.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Franklin M. Felciano, her daughter, Christy Barrett (Felciano), her grandson, Scott Felciano, and her four brothers, Chris, Aldy, Harlow Jr. and Jack Gers. She is also remembered fondly by cousins, nieces and nephews, extended family members, and friends who were touched by her warmth, humor, and lively spirit.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, August 9th, 2025 at 9 A.M. at East Lawn Palms Mortuary and Cemetery at 5801 E Grant Rd, Tucson, AZ 85712. Reception to follow after at a private family location. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to The Humane Society of Southern Arizona.

To know Jeaneen was to love her. And to love her was to know the greatest kindness and compassion any one human could hold. She was sunshine itself, and her light will be remembered always.