Jean Marie Gaither

With deep faith in God’s plan, Jean Gaither was called home on April 13th, 2025 at the age of 79. Jean was born to Jack Langley and Mary Lee Merrida on June 19th, 1945, in St. Louis Mo. In her younger years, her late mother Mary Lee Merrida relocated their family to Oakland, California where she met her late husband, Thurman Gaither. The couple moved from Oakland, California to Santa Rosa, California where they raised their daughters Taffy, Candy, Marie, and Florence. In their later years had a son Daniel. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, she touched countless lives with her willingness to always help others. In her spare time, she was a karate instructor, real-estate agent, farmer, an paramount member of the PTA, as well as a Caregiver to mentally ill people. The family moved from state to state for Thurman’s employment and eventually settled in Little Rock Arkansas. Here is where she used her Naturopathic Doctorate and her Reflexology/Massage Therapy degrees to open her own business “Just for the Health of it” in the late 90’s.

Her memories will be forever cherished by her living children, Candy Crayne (David Crayne), Marie King (Jessie King), Florence Hood (Ryan Hood) and Daniel Gaither (Whitney Gaither). Her grandchildren; David Scott, Michael Goins, Marquita Dennis, Jasmine Taylor, Chanel Hartley, Rachel Rodriguez, Ebony Anderson, Toni Rose, Savanna Onick and Ashley King. As well as the joys of her life her great-grandchildren Andrea, Areyona, Carter, Darian, Justin, Alliah, August, Mason, Namari, and Cadden. She was preceded in death by her mother Mary Lee Merrida, her husband Thurman Gaither and daughter Taffy Gaither.

A graveside for Jean will be held Friday, April 18, 2025 at 10:00 AM at Pinecrest Funeral Home & Memorial Park, 7401 HIGHWAY 5 N, ALEXANDER, Arkansas 72002.