Jeanine Ann Fontenot

After a courageous battle with lung cancer and the effects of treatment, Jeanine Ann Dupree Positan Fontenot, 86, went to heaven on March 31, 2022, a beautiful spring day.

From the very beginning of her life, Jeanine was small in stature but mighty in heart and spirit.

Born on January 29, 1936, in Houston, Texas, to James Allen and Dorothy Mae Vesper Dupree, she suffered an incredible loss when her mother died a few hours after giving birth. When Jeanine was 2 years old, her father married Velna Vivian Streetman, who raised her with love alongside her brothers Ray and Jimmy and sister Debbie.

Growing up, she spent nearly every weekend with her grandparents James Austin and Jessie Saunders Dupree. Even as a young girl, she rode the bus from her home in Houston on Milwaukee Street to their house on Banks. Jeanine would later speak of the tremendous influence her grandmother “Mommy” had on her life.

She attended Jeff Davis High School and was a member of the prestigious Carlton Cadets Drill Team.

Jeanine loved Austin, Texas, and spent summers there with her aunt and cousins swimming in Barton Springs. It was in Austin that she met and wed the love of her life, James Foster “Posey” Positan.

Together with their six children, the couple resided in Seabrook, Texas. They lived a few houses down from her brother Jimmy and his family in a small, tight-nit neighborhood where the kids played outside from sunup to sundown. The two families spent most holidays and weekends together, playing board games until the wee hours of the morning.

She later relocated to San Leon, Texas, married Jerry Lynn Fontenot, and lived in a little white house where her grandchildren and great grandchildren would visit, swing on the porch swing and marvel at her extensive Beanie Babies collection. She relished the hours she spent recording them talking, reading and performing skits.

After Hurricane Ike destroyed her home in 2008, Jeanine rebuilt, and the little white house became the little yellow house with a red door. She still loved visits from her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, and she spent countless hours with her daughters drinking coffee on her front porch and at Gilhooley’s, where she’d chat up the waitstaff.

Jeanine cared deeply for animals and rescued many throughout her life, including several cats that survived the devastation of Hurricane Ike, just as she had.

She was a devout Christian who read the Bible and prayed daily. She found comfort in her faith, especially during difficult times, including throughout her illness, treatment and hospitalizations.

Above all, Jeanine cherished her family. She took immense pride in the accomplishments of those she loved, and her greatest wish was to return home where they could all be together. Her strength was inspiring, especially to her family who are heartbroken to lose her. Her family finds solace in knowing she’s now in the healing arms of Christ.

Jeanine was preceded in death by her father, James Allen Dupree; mothers Dorothy Mae Vesper Dupree and Velna Vivian Streetman Dupree; father of her children James Foster Positan; husband Jerry Lynn Fontenot; sister-in-law Dorothy Faye Conway Dupree; and son-in-law James Michael “Mike” Smith.

She is survived by her children Sheryl Lynn Sens and husband Gary of Sealy, Texas; James Foster Positan and wife Ruth of Clinton, Mississippi; Cynthia Jeanine Smith of League City, Texas; Tina Jean Ferguson and husband David of Midlothian, Texas; Juli Annette Positan of San Leon; and Angela Renee Murphy of San Leon; and siblings Ray Allen Dupree and wife Jana of Boise, Idaho; James Austin Dupree of San Leon; and Deborah Lynn Dupree Green of San Leon; and stepchildren Susan Fontenot and husband Neil; David Fontenot and wife Lori; Mary Louise Fontenot Johnson and husband Trent, and Molly Fontenot Rodriguez and husband Andrew. She also leaves behind 14 grandchildren, 13 step grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, one great-great grandson and two great-great grandbabies on the way, as well as cousins, nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

A celebration of Jeanine’s life is scheduled for Friday, April 8, at 2 pm at Forest Park East Funeral Home, 21620 Gulf Freeway in Webster, Texas, followed by burial at San Leon Cemetery, 122 22nd Street in San Leon.

In lieu of flowers, Jeanine’s family requests memorial donations be made to League City Animal Care (leaguecitytx.gov/3913/Donate) and MD Anderson Cancer Center (mdanderson.org/give).