Jean Marie Pinkston

Jean was born in Winchester, Massachusetts to Alfred and Annie Colford and grew up in nearby Reading, MA. As the youngest child and only girl in a family of three older brothers, Jean spent her youth playing ice hockey, running around outside, getting mud and dirt everywhere, refusing to let her mother put her hair in curlers, and dancing in the kitchen most weekend nights while her father played Irish jigs and reels on the fiddle. Fascinated by music from a young age, Jean learned to play the piano and viola before studying music at the Boston Conservatory on a full scholarship.

After conservatory, Jean joined the the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and made the big move to Texas, where she embarked on a 37-year career filled with music, laughter, and treasured friends. Jean traveled all over the world to play with the DSO, the Santa Fe Opera, and many others, though she said her favorite shows were the children's performances.

Jean adored children, and though she had none of her own, she was blessed with nieces and nephews, and later great-nieces and nephews, who were among the greatest joys in her life. She delighted in being dubbed "Crazy Aunt Jean" and worked hard to live up to the title by telling jokes, playing games, and teaching them how to use their nose as a silly instrument.

Jean married Gordon Pinkston later in life and his family became what she termed her "Texas Family," which grew to include multiple generations and young ones who gave her two new nicknames: "Ah-choo" after she pretended to sneeze dramatically to make the little ones laugh and "Jean-Jean," because she was too much fun to be named just once.

Jean loved life and lived it to the fullest. While she didn't quite make it to 100 as she had planned, she filled 93 beautiful years with love, laughter, music, and countless cats. Jean is preceded in death by her husband, Gordon Pinkston, her parents Alfred and Annie Colford, and her brothers Gerald, Alfred, and Lawrence Colford. Jean is survived by her nieces Mary McIntire and Ann Colford, her nephews Jim Colford, Chris Colford, and Michael Colford, her Texas Family: Nela Jasbring, Gordon Pinkston, Melissa Agabin, Lindsey Baines, Richard Jasbring, Robin Stephens, and Kyla Philpott, as well as many great-nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Jude's Children's Hospital in her name, a charity that was near and dear to Jean's heart.