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Jean Elizabeth Callen
10/01/1923 — 01/20/2009
From Richland, WA, US | Born in Bethlehem, PA
Jean Elizabeth Callen
Jean Elizabeth Jones Callen died January 20th. She was born October 1, 1923 to Lloyd and Louise Jones in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
She is survived by her sister Mona Kuczun of Boxford, MA; sister-in-law Kay Lavely of Evanston, IL; her three children Laura Heard of Seattle, Candace Callen of Leavenworth and Mark Callen of Spokane; and grandchildren Leah Hoffman of Seattle and Elizabeth Heard of Hong Kong.
She was educated at Skidmore College and Katherine Gibbs secretarial school. She was married for 55 years to Alfred Copeland Callen Jr., who preceded her in death in 2000. They moved to Richland in 1947, after Cal completed his navy service and graduate school. He worked as a metallurgist for several companies through the development of Hanford. They shared a deep love of the river, the desert, and avocations of horseback riding, golf, and bridge.
Jean was an intrepid international traveler. She lived by the motto on her bumper sticker, "Good girls go to heaven; Bad girls go everywhere". She visited six continents. Places she particularly enjoyed were London and India.
She was involved in her community in many ways: as a long time member/producer for Richland Light Opera Company, as an antique collector and shop owner. She derived much pleasure from her friends on the golf course, at the bridge table and while volunteering for Tri-Cities Cancer Center, Allied Arts, Community Concerts, Mid¬Columbia Symphony, and Kadlec Auxiliary.
Her family deeply appreciates the care she received from the Tri-Cities Cancer Center, Lower Valley Hospice, and Alterra- Wynwood. At her request no service will be held. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in her name to Tri-Cities Cancer Center and Richland Light Opera.
I am so grateful that I had a day with Jean to remember our “opera trip” to Italy. I took my photo album to her room and we had a good time together. I will miss my good friend. Please accept my deep sympathy to all the family.
Jean and I were together at Appleseed Gallery for over 18 years. I loved hearing her travel stories and got much travel advice from her. She was a dear, dear lady.
Your mom, Jean, was one of the first people I met when I came to the Tri-Cities in the late 50’s, in Richland specifically. She introduced me to Light Opera and coerced me she had a pitch that was hard to resist! to get involved in the productions. We worked together on a number of them.
I considered her a good friend always. Her twinkling dark eyes had a way of seeing through phony people and there were plenty of them on stage but she was loyal too and encouraged those who poured themselves into the nitty-gritty behind the scenes stuff.
Her sense of humor took some getting used to, but she definately had one. She had a great influence on me and my children, a postive one on all of us. And there were many times she let me see how much she loved her Laura, Candice and Mark.
Peace to you all!
Lois Gaskell
P.S. My computer has shut down and I am going to have to help the Finances of the good ol’US of A by buying a new one.
I met Jean only recently while substituting in her Thursday bridge group. What a lovely, gracious lady she was. I will remember her lovely smile making me feel so welcome. She will be dearly missed by so many people.
I feel very fortunate in having known Jean even though it was for just a few years. Her sense of humor, positive outlook, and general joy of living were a great example on how to live a good life.
Jean and her husband were some of the people we met when we came to Richland in 1953 and I remember many fun hours spent with them. I was in Appleseed with Jean for many years. I have a coin purse I am still using that she gave me from one of her many trips.
She would always call me on my birthday. She was a lovely person and will be missed by many. I know I have met Candance.
How I will miss your mother. We have been good friends for 40 years, and shared so much. We were partners on the golf course, at duplicate bridge,and at The Appleseed Gallery. But most of all she was my travel mentor. Her love of travel and spirit of adventure was so contagious, she became my inspiration. We spent many hours talking about where we had been and where to go next. She shared her great travel slides at parties at my home, all guests asked to wear costumes relating to her trip. My favorite was her trip to Tibet…I know her travels from now on will all be joyous ones. Love to all of you, Jan Tippett-Uhler
Jean was a treasure I have already been missing. I knew her from Community Concerts and Appleseed, and got to know her a little better in recent years, when she began to volunteer at Allied Arts and became a movie date. I think she was a rare combination of good humor and no nonsense. Her positive attitude was a model for me that I hope will keep me looking for adventures and the bright side of life, even though I can’t imagine being half as brave as she was.
Big Hug, fine lady. We all will miss our chats, our walks with you and Cal, and our few and too-brief times together. You are and always will be – very special to all of us. Peace.
Jean was not only a good friend, but the best of “sisters”. She will be missed. Stick
In the 1985 we met on a Truck Camping Safari in Kenya. Jean travelled with Nan, their energy and travel tales inspired us and continue to inspire to this day.
We visited Jean at her home a few times. It breaks my heart we had to cancel an intended visit in 2008.
In loving memory, from the Dutchies,
Ada, Ruud and Alexander.
Guestbook for
Jean Elizabeth Callen