Jeanne Gertrude McBride

Jeanne Gertrude McBride, 78 passed away on December 26, 2014 at the Magnified Nursing Home in College Station, Texas. She was born on August 27, 1936 in Hines Creek, Alberta, Canada to Olaf and Laura (Daley) Olstad. She has two older sisters, Lorraine McNaughton (dec) and Marion Pebbles (91). Jeanne’s childhood was spent in Edmonton, Alberta where she attended Garneau Elementary & Middle School and Scona High School (1954) with her husband Richard (Dick) McBride. She was active in many sports including cheerleading, basketball and volleyball. Jeanne married her high school sweetheart Dick on May 28, 1960 at St. Paul United Church in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Jeanne worked at the South Side pool concession stand during the summer and gave swim lessons to children of all ages. Following graduation from High School, she worked at Imperial Oil as the Head of the ladies steno pool. When Jeanne and Dick began their family, Jeanne stayed home to raise their three daughters.

In 1977 Jeanne & Dick moved their family to Houston, Texas.

In 1978 Dick began a new OB/GYN practice at the Memorial City Medical Center, Houston, TX, where Jeanne was the office manager and bookkeeper. Throughout her life Jeanne was active with curling, snow skiing, golfing, sewing, reading and traveling. Jeanne was the hostess with the mostest! She loved her famous Annual Christmas Parties, where she was the caterer. Her homemade appetizers and desserts were the hit of the season. She also became famous in Virginia for her New Year’s Eve parties at her daughter Joanne’s home. When Dick retired, he and Jeanne became world travelers with trips to Australia, China, Israel, Egypt, Thailand, and many parts of Europe. They usually spent the month of August each year back home in Canada visiting with all of their dear friends and relatives.

Jeanne was very involved and supportive in all her daughters’ lives. As a tradition she would make the first day of school outfit for each daughter. She volunteered at the Book Fair at school, and made costumes for the Westchester Cheerleading team and the Stratford Spartanaires drill team. She was always available to listen and support her daughters whenever they needed her. Jeanne was a strong woman and lived a life of truth and love. She was a wonderful mother and wife. She was a great example of what being a mom is all about.

Jeanne loved to sew and decorate her home with many personal touches. She recovered furniture and made curtains many times with the changing of seasons in life. She made Christmas stockings for each son-in-law and grandchild, along with Christmas mice, which will decorate her daughters’ homes for years to come.

She was a member of the Doctor Wives Social Club, as well as the Yorkshire Women’s Club where she served as the address book editor, Treasurer and President.

Jeanne is survived by her daughters (and sons-in-law) Joanne & Steve Taylor of Reston, VA, Judy & David Gerow of Houston, TX, and Jill & Bill Wise of College Station, TX; grandchildren, Jamie Gerow, Jeannie Taylor, Jessie Gerow, Josh Taylor, Joseph Wise, Jacob Gerow; her sister Marion Pebbles of Edmonton, Alberta; her sister-in-law Conny McBride of North Saanich, BC, her nieces and nephews Linda & Neil Gray of St. Albert, Alberta, Jeanne & Tom Peebles of Edmonton, Alberta, and Pat & Andy Peebles of Falkland, BC. She was preceded in death by her husband Richard McBride (Feb 10, 2014), her parents, her sister Lorraine McNaughton, and her nephew Don McNaughton.

Special thanks are given to Ajay Mitter, M.D. who provided exceptional care and kindness to the entire family.

The family will hold a private memorial service. In lieu of sending flowers, please consider making a donation to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in honor of Jeanne & Dick McBride at www.stjude.org.