" Pop Pop" A. Belknap. Loving mother of Cathy E. Shelton, Michael W. Brown and his wife Erina and Daniel K. Long. Sister of Steve and Thomas Anderson. Cherished grandmother of Ashley, Jason, Evan, Andrew and Kyla. She is also survived by several nieces, nephews and many loving friends.
Family and friends are invited to gather at the Gary L. Kaufman Funeral Home at Meadowridge Memorial Park Inc., 7250 Washington Boulevard Elkridge, MD 21075 ( exit 6 south off Rt. 100) on Sunday, July 12, 2020 from 2 to 4 pm and 6 to 8 pm where a Celebration of Life Funeral Service will be held on Monday, July 13, 2020 at 11:00 am. Interment to follow at Meadowridge Memorial Park, Elkridge, MD. If desired, memorial contributions may be made in her name to St. Jude's Childrens Research Hospital, 1 St. Jude Place, P.O.Box 1000, Dept. 300, Memphis, TN 38148.
20 years ago, Jean Belknap got hooked on crafts. Working with a doll theme, she started small, a toy here, a christmas ornament there. Before long, though, the cozy Belknap home was overrun with stuffed, elaborately dressed dolls. On beds, tables, a year-round Christmas tree, everywhere you looked, you saw them – animal dolls, people dolls, angel dolls, you name it.
In 1990, Jean Belknap quit her day job, a secretarial position, to manage this hobby gone haywire. She was still a mother, partner and great cook. Steven her husband, devoted his spare time to it also. Ordering craft materials, building display stands, assisting at fairs and shows, stirring up publicity. Soon they have established a fulltime, home-based business, The County Spirit.
In a trade show competition co-sponsored by the state in 1995, The Country Spirit was among the 20 Maryland companies selected by the QVC home-shopping television network for its “Quest for America’s Best – QVC’s 50 Tour”.
On Sunday, October 22, 1995, live from Baltimore, MD, Jean’s soft-sculpture doll, “TYLER THE GERAFFE” was presented for sale to some 50 million viewers. In the words of one business observer, the Belknaps have hit the jackpot. QVC is buying 600 “Tylers” - $10,000 worth, for the show. The Maryland with Pride program will help market The Country Spirit products. Gov. Parris Glendening has written to congratulate Jean and Steve for reflecting “the best in Maryland’s culture, heritage, creativity and ingenuity”.
“Jean will appear on QVC representing Maryland, but also, more importantly, our home community” says Steve. “Tyler” was sold out in minutes, A GREAT SUCCESS FOR JEAN.
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