A life of beauty, grace, and adventure ended on August, 11 2022. One day before her 75th birthday, Jennifer Jo Bird, daughter of Carl C. and Marie Jo Anderson, died peacefully at home. An enthusiastic seafarer, Jennifer sailed off on the wave of love of her husband of fifty years, John Bird, her devoted Bird in-laws--Martha, Kay, Steve, Tom, and Sarah--and dear friends, Rick and Jackie Smart and Sylvia and Ralph Kehle. Jennifer’s professional and charitable responsibilities created an extensive circle of beloved associates.
From girlhood, Jennifer shared her mother’s love of Arabian horses. It became a lifelong passion, and together they created JenMar Arabians. Jenni managed her 80-acre farm for 50 years in NE Austin to pursue her passionate quest for equine beauty and athletic skill. Her dedication to the breed was rewarded with two national championships and great personal satisfaction. Jenni shared uncountable Arabian related triumphs with her cousin, Stephanie Pugash.
In 1967, on the steps of the University of New Mexico Student Union Building, Jennifer met John, the love of her life, her partner in adventure. John, dazzled both by Jennifer’s beauty and her elegance, readily admits that he was “punching far above his weight” when he asked her out. Astonishingly, she accepted. The six-hour conversation they had on that first date ended up lasting a lifetime. They were married on April 10th, 1972. Jennifer was born in Hamilton Ohio, her mother’s hometown. Her summers were shared with her cousins Nancy O’Connor and Eddie Baker infusing her youth with a pastoral Ohio innocence.
Believing that Jenni needed to see more of the world than Ohio, her parents sent her on a five-month world cruise aboard the World Campus Afloat. The kaleidoscope of experiences and adventures, the joy of discovering new places, remained with her to the end; it would be easier to list the countries that she hasn’t visited than to inventory her far-flung destinations.
Many memorable highlights seasoned their numerous sailing trips. The travel chapters of her life included sailing through a hurricane near Bora Bora, viewing the Northern Lights from Chena Hot Springs, a million pink jellyfish rising from the seabed to spawn at sunset, and happening upon the choir practice by the Nuns of Sacre Coeur in Paris. Life can be very sweet, and Jenni was all in favor of desserts.
As anyone who ever experienced the magic of Jennifer’s smile, of her laughter, knew, she had a wonderfully mischievous sense of playfulness. Jenni collected art that celebrated her love of beauty and deep appreciation of Arabian horses. Her tastes also reflected the little girl in her, with a wry sense of whimsy and wonder. Her favorite piece of art hangs in the breakfast room, depicting three cowgirls infectiously laughing over what was certainly a naughty story.
An accomplished photographer and sculptor who’d studied art history, Jennifer not only collected art, she created it as well. The medium she chose most recently was orchids. Her friend, Connie Devlin shared her passionate appreciation and between them reveled in the beauty and mystery of this world. An active member of the Austin Orchid Society, she both cultivated prize-winning specimens and generously shared her extensive knowledge of the exotic flower.
Jennifer herself was the rarest of blossoms. Adventurous, fun-loving, and effortlessly classy, Jennifer Jo Anderson Bird was a woman of stunning natural beauty who downplayed her looks and acts of immense kindness. She never expected empty applause for her acts of great generosity. Instead, she was admired, respected and genuinely loved. She was - and will remain - our cherished friend.
Goodbye, Jenni, we were so very lucky to have had you in our lives. For the friendship and fun of her companion, Karey McEachern provided, and the caring professionalism from Hospice Austin through Heather, Tina, and Jessica we shall be endlessly grateful.
A visitation will be held on Friday, August 19, 2022, from 4-7 PM at 6100 North Lamar Blvd. Austin, Texas 78752 at Cook-Walden North Lamar. The funeral service will be on August 20, 2022, beginning at 4 PM at Cook-Walden North Lamar.
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