Jean Stainback

Jean LeRoy Stainback went Home to be with the family she loved and the Savior she worshipped on January 6, 2010 at the age of 96 years, 2 months and 11 days. Jean was born Jean Frances LeRoy in Elizabeth New Jersey on October 26, 1913. She and sister Ruth were orphaned as teens and were raised by an aunt. Jean married Reverend Arthur House Stainback of Virginia and began working alongside him in their ministries in New York, Florida, North Carolina, Georgia and Missouri. Jean and Arthur adopted Peter LeRoy Stainback as an infant in 1952. Throughout their many pastorates in five states, Jean, Arthur and Pete made many friends who remained faithful for many years through letters and cards that Jean treasured and kept. Even though it had been decades since many of these dear friends had seen her, she received Christmas cards from several in 2009.

After Arthur's death in 1994, Jean took care of estate matters and then moved to Springfield, Missouri to be with Pete and wife Judy and children Eric and Sarah. Initially, she lived in a retirement community called The Montclair and made many new friends with her servant spirit, but in 2001 moved in to live with Pete and family as her ability to live alone declined. Almost five years later when her requirement for nursing care was too great for family, Jean moved to a skilled care nursing facility in Springfield where she spent her final years. The staff at Manorcare loved Jean even though she stopped speaking over two years ago and was totally dependent on others for her care. They said she "smiled with her eyes".

Celebrate with us Jean's going Home. Imagine her surprise to see her entire family welcoming her into Heaven. We assume that she did not comprehend the sudden death of her beloved son Pete in September of 2008. Jean is survived by her two grandchildren, Eric Stainback and his wife Linda and great grandchild Regan Leann Stainback of Texarkana, Arkansas and Sarah Jean Whitten and her husband Adam of Springfield, Missouri and their two sons, Luke Douglas and Noah Matthew who are too young to have ever known their Grandma Jean.

Jean's remains will be sent to Asheville, North Carolina to be buried next to Arthur at Green Hills Cemetery. A graveside memorial will be conducted by staff of First Baptist Church Asheville where Jean and Arthur were members when he died.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are welcome to the Education Fund for Pete's Grandchildren that was established after Pete died which is at the Bank of America, Springfield, MO (account number 354004513537)