Jean Lashlee Shine

Jean lived a life full of love, adventure, determination and impact. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, successful businesswoman, dedicated supporter of Soldiers and Veterans and a tireless community servant. Her incredible legacy will live on for generations in the lives she touched and the people she inspired.

Jean was born a military child, her father a career Army Officer. The family, which included her sister Joan and brother Bob, moved around the world living in Germany, France, Texas and Arkansas.

While attending the University of Arkansas in 1967, she was a bridesmaid at a friend’s wedding in Texas. There she met a tall and handsome groomsman named Bill Shine. After just three dates, Bill asked her to marry him in a letter. She accepted, and they were married May 18, 1968.

Jean and Bill built their lives in Central Texas following Bill’s service in the Army and Vietnam. Their family would grow to include Steven and Scott, to whom Jean was an enthusiastic and devoted mother. Every milestone and occasion was worth celebrating, every adventure worth taking and every hobby worth pursuing. She never missed a moment in their busy lives and was their constant spectator and champion. She relished the energy of her two active boys and always welcomed cousins and friends to join in the fun. Her commitment to her sons carried into adulthood welcoming their wives and children to the family. As a grandmother, called GiGi, she was just as present. She never missed a school activity, award ceremony, sporting event or birthday. Ryan and Rylee were her priority, and she made their young lives more exciting with every adventure, big or small.

Jean got her real estate license in 1979 and began helping Central Texas families with some of the most important decisions of their lives. Treating clients as family became a hallmark of her business and the key to her incredible success. In her more than 40 years in real estate, she helped more than 14,000 clients. She reached the pinnacle of success earning national and international honors year after year. However, her greatest achievement was that the Shine Team was a family business, where she worked alongside her husband, sons, nephew and sister-in-law every day.

Inspired by her own experience as a military child and Soldier’s wife, Jean became a powerful advocate for military families. Publicly, she served in influential positions including Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army, member of the Commanding Generals Community Service Council, member of the Military Affairs Committees of the Killeen and Harker Heights Chambers and sponsor and contributor to various programs and efforts. Privately, she was hosting Soldiers in her home for holidays and special events, sponsoring their children’s activities, funding scholarships, assisting with military academy appointments, employing military spouses and veterans and acting as mother and grandmother to Soldiers and their families who were far from loved ones. She gifted Soldiers angel coins as they deployed, welcomed them home from overseas no matter the time of day or night and attended Soldier and Veteran funerals when families couldn’t. So many of those touched by these acts of kindness and support still refer to her as Mom and Grandmother today.

Jean was also a community champion and trailblazer. She served three terms as a Killeen ISD School Board Trustee then a founding member and president of the Killeen ISD Education Foundation. She was a founder and member of the American Cancer Society – Central Texas, Junior Service League of Killeen, Junior Review Club and Our Community Salutes Central Texas Chapter. It was her founding of the Friends of Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery Wreaths for Vets program that would become her crowning achievement. It started with a simple goal: honor all laid to rest in our veterans cemetery, which numbered about 300 the first year and has grown to over 18,000. Her leadership over 20 years made the Wreath Project the community’s signature event and inspired generations of unwavering support for the effort. She and Bill will now be honored in the way that they honored so many.

Jean’s accomplishments did not go unnoticed. In addition to her many real estate awards, she was honored with the Outstanding Civilian Service Medal, Noble Patron of Honor Award, Preserving the Trust Award, Star Power Humanitarian Award and Girl Scouts Woman of Distinction. She and Bill together received the Fort Hood Good Neighbor Award, Roy J. Smith Award, Kern Cox Award, Exchange Club Golden Deeds Award and the Boy Scouts Silver Eagle Award.

Jean was full of energy, drive, passion and love. If there was an event to attend, she and Bill were there. Where she saw a need, she was the first to raise her hand and rally the support to fulfill it. She did not like to hear the word no and instead accepted it as a challenge to make something bigger, better or more impactful. She inspired others to approach opportunities and challenges with her same tenacity and stood with them as they reached their goals. She shared her light and love so generously with all she encountered that we are confident her impact was felt around the world.

Jean is survived by her two sons, Steven, wife Corie, and their children Ryan Shine and Rylee Bethune, and Scott, wife Hilary. She is also survived by her sister Joan Ray, husband Chine, brother Bob Utley, wife Judy, sister-in-law, Cyd West, and many extended family members. She was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Bill, and her father and mother, Eugene and Armine Utley.

Visitation is scheduled Wednesday, September 16, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Crawford Bowers Funeral Home in Killeen. Funeral Services will be Thursday, September 17, at 12 p.m. at Christian House of Prayer followed by interment at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for support of Wreaths for Vets and MD Anderson Cancer Center. Wreaths for Vets is an organization that Jean founded and she and Bill proudly served for two decades. Details can be found at www.wreathsforvets.org, and donations may be mailed to Wreaths for Vets, PO Box 2790, Harker Heights, TX 76548. MD Anderson Cancer Center provided Jean with the greatest of care for more than 30 years. She believed in the healing it provides and wished to help more families have more time through its research and treatment. Donations may be made at gifts.mdanderson.org in memory of Jean Shine for GI Cancer Research.