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Jean Stover
Jean Stover age 95, of Versailles, Ohio passed away at 12:10 A.M. on
Friday, December 4, 2015 at Versailles Health Care Center. Jean was
born September 10, 1920 in Mangum, Oklahoma to the late Thomas
Jefferson & Audrey (Ramsey) Gaines.
Jean is survived by her children, Barbara Akina of Versailles and Jeff
& Kellie Stover of Dublin; grandchildren, David & Christy
(Arnold) Akina, Stacy Stover, Eric & Julie (Pierron) Stover, Miles
Stover and Madeleine Stover; and 8 great-grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, Jean was also preceded in death by her
husband, Robert L. “Bob” Stover; son, Stanley Stover; brothers,
Orville, Bud, Vernon and Garland Gaines; and sister, Nadine
Lowe.
Jean met Robert L. (Bob) Stover in her hometown of Oklahoma City in
1942 while he was stationed there, serving in the US Air Force, before
deploying to the war in Europe. They fell in love, got married and Jean
settled with him in Versailles in 1943. She fell in love with the
people and the community of this small Midwestern village and her
feelings never changed for her remaining 72 years. Some of her first
acquaintances were women in the Coterie Club and many became her
longest-lasting and most cherished friends.
After settling in her new home for a few years and having two children,
Stanley and Barbara, Jean picked up her scissors and went back to work.
Eventually she started her own businesses, one in Versailles and one in
Greenville. She was happy and proud to be part of the local business
community. Anyone who ever worked for her, was a client, or simply got
to know her knew her caring, positive, can-do attitude. She truly
loved her work and she liked to have fun while she was at it!
Jean began her working career early in life. At the age of sixteen she
went to Beauty School and took her first job as a hair stylist in
downtown Oklahoma City when she finished. She loved to talk about
riding the trolley car home from work where she’d gulp down half a
sandwich while she got dressed to go back downtown for the music and
dancing. She danced to live performances of Count Basie, Cab Calloway,
the Dorsey Brothers and many more. (My generation would call her a Big
Band freak!) She made good and lasting friendships during that time and
truly enjoyed her youthful independence. She was always fiercely
independent. She was extraordinary in her complete lack of prejudice. I
haven’t known another who took anyone and everyone at face value,
without judgment. She looked for the best in all people and situations.
We will cherish her memory for all of our lives.
A celebration of Jean’s life will held at 3:00 P.M. on Sunday, December
13, 2015 at Bailey Zechar Funeral Home in Versailles with Pastor Dennis
Wheeler officiating. The family will receive friends on Sunday from
1:00 to 3:00 P.M. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers or gifts, the
family request memorial contributions may be made to the Versailles
Area Museum, State of the Heart Hospice or Cancer Association of Darke
County. Condolences for the family may be expressed through www.zecharbailey.com
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