Raised in nearby Tell City as one of twelve Hale children, Jean developed a strong love of cooking, family, Christmas and travel. In 1948, she married the late Cornelius Leinenbach and raised six children. Following his passing in 1969, she packed up her two youngest children and left Indiana, driving nearly 1,000 miles to Orlando, Florida to start a new job with Watkins Inc. There she met and married the late Robert Murray in 1971, gaining four step-children and adding her seventh child. She later worked for General Electric and The Home Depot before retiring.
Jean’s favorite holiday was Christmas when she would proudly transform her home in to a vast miniature Christmas village and could gather her family around her on Christmas Eve. She always found her greatest joy in happiness and laughter of her family. She especially loved being Granny to 31 grandchildren, 51 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren.
She is survived by her children Brenda Bowman, Gary (Phyllis) Leinenbach, Vicki (Chuck) Gormly, Terry (Grace) Leinenbach, Michael (Heather) Murray, Robert (Dana) Murray, Cherie (Barry) Hicks, Karen (Don) Causseaux, and Darrell (John) Murray; brothers Walter Hale, Bobby (Dalcy) Hale, David (Shannon) Hale and sister Rellah Turpin.
In addition, to her parents and husbands, Jean was preceded in death by two sons, Jerry and Larry Leinenbach; two brothers, Curtis, and Clinton Hale; and four sisters, Irene Hale, Edwina Pease, Charlotte Riddle, Marcia Criss and Martine Holloman.
Services will be held at 10:30am on Tuesday, July 27, 2021 at Baldwin-Fairchild Funeral Home, 994 East Altamonte Drive, Altamonte Springs, Florida 32701. Interment will follow at Glen Haven Memorial Park, 2300 Temple Drive, Winter Park, Florida 32789. www.baldwinfairchildeastaltamonte.com
