Jean Weathers

Ruth Jean Weathers was born on December 23rd, 1924 in Scottsbluff Nebraska to Lewis (d) and Hazel (d) Henderson, and died on October 20, 2014 at Folsom Dignity Hospital after complications following surgery. Jean is survived by her husband of 71 years Bill Weathers, children; Allen Weathers, Alene Nishiguchi (Tom), Karen Steinke (Phil) and Dale Weathers (Karen). Jean was blessed with nine grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter. She is also survived by two of her five siblings; JoAnne and Donna, and preceded in death by Joyce, Truman and Lewis. She was the oldest of the six children and lived in Scottsbluff until she was 17 when the family packed up and moved to Ogden, UT during her senior year of high school. This was a big move for Jean as she was scheduled to be the valedictorian at her high school in Scottsbluff. However, if it were not for this move she would never have met Bill at the First Christian Church in Ogden and ultimately marrying him two years later on September 18, 1943.

When Jean was young her father taught her to play the piano and along with her two sisters, Joyce and JoAnne by her side the trio sang with Jean at the piano performing at churches, weddings, and anywhere else they could. Not only was she wonderful on the keys, she was known for her beautiful alto voice. Jean was a deeply spiritual person, a “Rock”, and a true inspiration to her children, her cousins, nieces, granddaughters, and extended family and friends. While she never offered advice unless asked she was called upon often – always seeming to know just what to say, and how to help and guide. One of her daughters often shared her mother’s wisdom written to her in letters with her college sisters: Jean has always and will continue to inspire us to be more! And the more just might be her cooking and baking. Her family will miss her world famous peanut butter cookies and wonderful snicker doodles; no one will ever be able to make them as well as she did! Allen particularly liked her mincemeat cookies, which she made especially for him.

Jean worked off and on throughout Bill’s Air Force career as a secretary from Tucson AZ, Riverside CA, Limestone ME, and Sacramento’s Mather Field, finally settling in El Dorado Hills, CA, in 1966. Jean worked at Aerojet for a time and then went to work for the Franchise Tax Board for many years before retiring from the working force. She and her husband were long time members of First Christian Church in Loomis CA along with oter Cristian Curc members from te greater outlying Sacramento area. She was an Elder in the curch and served on many committees both locally and at the regional level. It was well known that she loved music and what may not be known by many is that she was a member of the Jazz Society and volunteered at the Jazz Festival with Bill for many years, making wonderful memories and long time friends. Jean genuinely was an accomplished pianist and devoted organist sharing her gift of music through song at church every Thursday and Sunday with the coir. Secretly trough, she loved when regional choir came around every January as she actually got to return to her love of singing. Jean also loved being a member of the American Guild of Organists and when she finally retired, she volunteered for the Country Club Aires (SIRS) singing group, traveling all over to various Care Homes and Retirement Communities as she played the piano while the men sang. Several years back to Channel 10 even did an interview with Jean as the person of the week special. Her joy and love of music as well as life showed through … It was a sad day when Jean had to “retire from retirement: as she put it, but the family was blessed by her love of God and music until her death.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, donations may be offered to Sierra Christian Church in Loomis.

An open house celebration of Jean’s life will be held Nov 8th from 1:00pm – 4:00pm at Sierra Christian Church, 5645 Rocklin Road, Loomis.