She was born on May 18, 1930, in Darke County, Ohio, to the late Charles “Roscoe” and Lucy (Shade) Bryson.
In addition to her parents, Jean was preceded in death by her sisters, Esther Mae Hamilton, Mary Catherine Campbell, and Gertrude Eileen Bryson.
Jean was a lifelong resident of Darke County. She graduated from Arcanum High School in 1948. She was a farm wife and also worked for Arcanum Federal Savings for over 25 years as a loan officer. She and her husband, Dale, were members of the Grace United Methodist Church in Ithaca for many years.
Jean loved her family and tending to them. She was known for her family gatherings and famous Easter Egg Hunts. She loved traveling. They would travel all over the United States and even made it to Hawaii. It was not uncommon for them to travel to Amish country and out to Branson, Missouri. Jean enjoyed Bluegrass music and going to outdoor dramas.
Jean is survived by her husband of 71 years, Dale Dean Hawkey; her children, Jill Fisher and her husband, Wayne, of Greenville, and Jerry Hawkey and his wife, JoAnn, of Greenville; her grandchildren, Isaac Fisher and his fiancé, Sarah Logan, of Fort Bragg California, Levi Fisher of Dayton, Kentucky, Ivy Cheeseman and her husband, Nathaniel, of Chiang Mai, Thailand, Mike Hawkey and his wife, Asazalia, of Palestine, Ohio, and Adrienne Sharp of Winterville, North Carolina; her 9 great grandchildren; and her brother, Robert Bryson of Arcanum.
A private celebration of Jean’s life will take place on Thursday, January 7, 2021, with Pastor Marla Brown officiating. Burial will follow in Ithaca Cemetery.
A public memorial service is being planned for a future date.
The family has entrusted Tribute Funeral Homes with the final arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be given to Day City Hospice, 8039 Washington Village Drive, Suite 110, Dayton, Ohio 45458.
Online condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.tributefuneralhomes.com.