Jean M Laughlin

Jean M Laughlin was a natural leader whose winning presence allowed her to take control of various situations with ease. Equipped with a clear and calculating focus, she possessed a tough-minded, “take charge” attitude. She had the ability to make even routine situations seem exciting, and she was at ease with the role of playing problem solver. Jean always sought out the scene of where the action was. Sociable, analytical and pleasant, Jean was an individual who enjoyed life’s challenges.

Her parents were Robert McLane and Dorthy Mclane. Jean was raised in East Liverpool, Ohio. Always able to express herself well, Jean possessed strong interpersonal skills. She was optimistic in her outlook on life and was able at all times to be open and direct in her communication. Armed with a great wit, Jean was raised to be accepting of others and to implement a strong personal work ethic.

Blessed with a balanced attitude, Jean was able to relate well with others. Her occasional role as family mediator gave her the opportunity to ease tense situations when they occurred. Jean was raised with one older brother , Robert and one older sister Virginia. Jean had a strong desire to be treated fairly and would readily offer others the same fairness in return.

As a young child, Jean showed her creative ability in many ways. She was outgoing and animated. Jean enjoyed new activities and pursued a variety of interests. She was a Girl Scout.

Known to others as a focused, logical, open-minded and somewhat driven individual, Jean was able to utilize these qualities to succeed in high school. Her curious nature was spurred by her ability to maximize her personal learning style through employing a hands-on approach. She was good with facts and had an excellent memory. She graduated from East Liverpool High School in 1951. She enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. Her favorite class in high school was math. The teacher she enjoyed learning from the most was Miss Blake.

When the goal of college was in sight, it became important to Jean. Again, her direct, “down to earth” approach served her well. She was able to absorb complex concepts and had an acute sense of how things worked. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Romance Languages at the University of Madrid in Spain in 1955. She also pursued graduate school at Pepperdine University. Her favorite courses were languages. Her favorite professor was Dr. Renkenberger.

Friends and acquaintances found Jean an easy woman to get to know, and those close to her would often praise her open, practical style of communication and relaxed approach to life in general. Jean was uncomplicated and straightforward in her relationships, which allowed her to accept people for what they were. Later in life, she became friends with Nancy Shields, Dorthy Flick and Joy Kaufman.

Jean was attentive to James's feelings, and she charmed James and others with her gift for being able to give freely and generously. A good listener with an engaging personality, Jean was able to bring pleasure and unexpected humor to the relationship.

Very much like a kid herself, Jean identified with the inquisitive and creative side of her children’s personalities. She was able to direct her energy and spontaneity towards helping her children acquire added common sense skills. Jean was blessed with two children, Two daughters Jaime and Joan. They were also blessed with Four grandchildren, Cassandra Davis, Billy Gibson, Sarrah Slayton and Brittney Freier.

Jean was a flexible worker who was able to draw the best from others around her. A persuasive individual who was quick to make necessary decisions, Jean’s strengths included being able to think on her feet. She could be a leader who sought impact for her decisions. Gifted with an incredible ability to read body language, Jean was able to positively manipulate situations and motivate others in order to get a task completed. She was a good negotiator who enjoyed new challenges. Jean could multi-task, and she was endowed with entrepreneurial spirit, allowing her to think beyond standard norms when it came to resolving issues in her work environment. Her primary occupation was financial management. She was employed for civil service for military.

Jean enjoyed her leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. She had something of an artistic flair in many of the things that she did. She put this creativity toward all of her pastimes. Her favorite pursuits were playing bridge, bunco, and womens club volunteer work. She was content to enjoy her hobbies alone but was also willing to share her interests with others.

Because she liked to take risks, Jean was a perfect match for athletics and exercise. She was enthusiastic and confident about these activities. In high school, Jean was a member of the choir and quartet singing group. Recreational sports included tennis and swimming. Jean was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching her favorite events whenever she got the opportunity. Tops on her list were college football.

Jean was a gifted problem solver who worked hard to help accomplish group goals. This skill made her a wonderful asset to the various groups and organizations to which she belonged. Always matter-of-fact about what needed to be done, Jean worked steadily to meet any organization’s goals. Throughout her later years, Jean was an active member of the Bonita Women's club.

Jean was a generous woman who prized that same quality in others. So it’s little wonder that she was so active and giving in her community. Politically, Jean was a strong supporter of the Republican Party.

Jean held close traditional values and as a result, faith was important to her. She was a life long member of the Episcopal Church. During that time, she was volunteer at the church thrift store.

Jean’s natural leadership qualities placed her in consideration for public recognition, earning her accolades for her many and varied efforts throughout her life. Some of her most prestigious awards included Past president of California Colleges and Military Educators Association, Department of the Navy Superoir Civilian Services. US Special operations Command . US Naval Warfare Command . Honorary Frogman.

Travel and vacations were experiences that Jean truly enjoyed. She preferred to seek out excitement wherever she went and she was partial to vacations that were casual and laid back with an atmosphere of “live and let live.” She was willing to leave her plans open and flexible, just in case something more interesting came along. Favorite vacations included Spain and Hawaii.

Jean was a lover of animals and cherished her pets. One of Jean’s favorites was Bear Bear a pound puppy. They were best friends for 12 years.

When Jean’s retirement finally came in April 30, 1995, she was well prepared. She used logical analysis of her retirement options in order to ensure her retirement would be fulfilling. Still, she was able to easily adapt to possible changes and enjoyed just having fun and being relaxed.

Jean was the kind of person who could win others over easily. A concrete communicator, she relied on her senses to increase her involvement and awareness of others. She was always able to provide amusing repartee to her friends and acquaintances, offering a seemingly endless supply of quips, anecdotes, jokes and stories. If Jean had a theme song written about her, it might well have been “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” She enjoyed her life and the experience of living it. This is how everyone will remember Jean M Laughlin.