Jeane G. Marquart

Jeane G. Marquart, 98, passed away peacefully on October 10, 2022, in Houston, Texas. She was born Gladys Jeane Godfrey on March 2, 1924, in Walters, Oklahoma, to Orie A. & Mary Louise Godfrey; and was the youngest of six (6) children.

Jeane graduated from Walters High School in 1942, the only one in her family to graduate high school. She played on the basketball team; but her proudest accomplishment was being a majorette and twirler along with her best friend, Katie Ogletree (Wilkinson). Promptly after graduation from high school, she moved to San Diego, California, to live with her sister Audrey; and to work in San Diego. She loved to go dancing whenever she had the chance so it was appropriate that in 1943 at a dance at the Eldorado Ballroom in San Diego, she met the love of her life, Bill Marquart. He was stationed at the Marine Base in San Diego. They were married on January 6, 1946, in Houston, Texas, at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church on Pecore Street. Jeane delighted in telling about taking Bill to meet her mother in Oklahoma for the first time – this was a case of “big city guy” getting a taste of “small town life”. Jeane told Bill that when they crossed into the city limits of Walters, her mother would know they were in town before they pulled in the driveway. Sure enough, when they pulled in the driveway, the next-door neighbor leaned out her window and yelled out to Jeane’s mother, “Mae, is that Jeane and her city feller!!” Bill almost fell out of the car laughing.

Jeane and Bill enjoyed 54 years of marriage, and they enjoyed doing many things, especially traveling the US in their motorhome, be it for square dancing, visiting family, or just going to a destination they hadn’t visited yet. They were members of several square dancing groups and enjoyed traveling to various square dance festivals. Even after Bill passed away, Jeane was quite a traveler … she was able to visit all 50 states; Canada; and even took a cruise through the Panama Canal.

After her marriage, Jeane worked at an insurance company until their kids arrived, and she then became one of those “stay-at-home moms” – but then in 1966, she went to work for the Spring Branch ISD, was there for 25 years, and retired in 1991.

Jeane and Bill were members of Shepherd Drive Methodist Church until their move to Terrace United Methodist Church in the Spring Branch area; and were members of the Pilgrim Sunday School Class.

Jeane was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; her parents Orie & Mae Godfrey; all five (5) of her brothers and sisters; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Arnold & Alice Marquart; and sister-in-law, Betty Marquart Bailey. She is survived by her daughter, Judy Marquart; her son, Russell Marquart (wife Vicki); granddaughter Alicia Marquart Hartman (husband Stephen); Michelle Marquart Tombrella (husband Rob); five (5) great-grandchildren: Kaitlyn Hartman, Rebekah Hartman, Samuel Tombrella, Joel Tombrella, and Asher Tombrella; sister-in-law Doris Marquart Wells; god-daughter Donna Johnson (husband Tom); and numerous other nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

The family would also like to thank the staff at Brookdale Spring Shadows for the special care given to Jeane during her time there.

A visitation for Jeane will be held from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Friday, October 14 at Waltrip Funeral Directors, 1415 Campbell Road in Houston, 77055. A Celebration of Life service with a reception to follow will be at Terrace United Methodist Church, 1203 Wirt Road, Houston, TX 77055, on Saturday, October 15, 2022; at 2:00 PM.

Pallbearers will be Russell Marquart, Stephen Hartman, Bill Bailey, Sam Tombrella, Joel Tombrella, and Asher Tombrella.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the American Cancer Society or to the charity of their choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.waltripfuneraldirectors.com for the Marquart family.