Jean Fowler Wiggins Tennison, beloved wife, devoted mother, grandmother and great grandmother, loving sister and loyal friend died January 24, 2011 at St. Elizabeth Hospital. She was 83.
Jean was born June 13, 1927 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. She was the youngest daughter of Dr. Ivy Robert Fowler and Goldie Mae Parr Fowler. Jean grew up in a close-knit home with her sisters, Maureen 'Sister', Geraldine 'Gerry', Josephine 'Jo', twin sister June and older brothers Robert 'Brother' and Parr.
Jean's early years were spent in Bessmay, Texas where days were filled playing marbles, climbing trees and flying kites made of newspaper and paste. She likened Bessmay to the fictional town in "To Kill A Mockingbird". Like 'Scout', Jean was ever the tomboy breaking her arm jumping to catch a tree limb and sneaking cornsilk smokes.
After the family moved to Silsbee, Texas, she was educated at local schools and graduated from Silsbee High School. It was there as a cheerleader that Jean's life long love affair with football began.
In addition to a love of sports, Jean's passion for dance started in Silsbee. Inspired by Maureen, Jean slipped on tap shoes for the first time taking lessons from her older sister at the "Fowler School of Dance". Despite an aborted attempt by the Fowler sisters to audition for the "Major Bowles Amateur Hour", she continued to enjoy dance for the rest of her life. Jean's dancing career would later climax on the stage of the Julie Rogers Theater where she performed with fellow Widman School of Dance alumni, including sisters Jo and June, for the school's 50th anniversary recital in 1977.
Jean attended Lamar College where she was a member of the Revelers Club that later became Alpha Delta Pi sorority. She transferred to Lindenwood College in St. Charles, Missouri and then Jean graduated with a bachelors degree in business from the University of Texas at Austin. Jean's status as a Longhorn alumni was an honor she wore with pride throughout her lifetime.
After returning from Austin, Jean began dating William 'Willie' Wyatt Wiggins, a handsome young serviceman who served his country with distinction in Europe. Jean and her sweetheart soon became husband and wife. As a young couple, they had an active and fun filled social life. In addition to regularly 'cutting a rug' as members of the Sans Souci and P.M. dance clubs, Jean and Willie enjoyed married life playing regular bridge games with friends and taking frequent trips to the beach.
Willie's job at Sun Oil Company, brought the newlyweds to Beaumont, Texas where they built happy a home together. Over the next few years the couple proudly welcomed the arrival of their five beloved daughters, Maureen, Kathleen, Carol, Jo and Gerry. Family was of primary importance to Jean. The Wiggins' home was always full of love and laughter. Get togethers with extended family and friends were a regular occurrence. The house on Oriole Drive echoed with joyous noise as the Wiggins clan applauded the girls' dance numbers, expertly performed "Laugh In" skits and enjoyed endless games of "Tripoly".
Jean was always ready to open her home to family members. When her father could no longer care for himself, 'Paw Paw' moved in, living his final years surrounded by the love of his grandchildren. Nieces Judy and Jana Jackson also lived with the family while they attended Lamar University. Later, the 'sixth' Wiggins daughter, niece Linda White moved in for the last months of her senior year at Forest Park.
As the Wiggins girls grew into successful and confident young women they began to move out of the house. Jean soon returned to the world of work. She was first employed in the credit department at Sears & Roebuck and then enjoyed a 16 year career as the Inventory Control Administrator with American Valve & Hydrant.
In retirement, Jean's focus began to turn to favorite pastimes. She loved to travel and enjoyed taking family and friends on regular trips to destinations such as Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe. Always the sports enthusiast, Jean was a University of Texas football season ticket holder for many years. Her enthusiasm for the game knew no bounds. Friends and family still marvel at the sight of Jean, attired in full Longhorn regalia, leading the University of Nebraska band into Texas Memorial Stadium. Pom poms held high and an infectious smile on her face, she delighted the astonished crowd.
With the birth of daughter Kathleen's first child Shanda, Jean discovered the joys of becoming a grandmother. Later, grandchildren Jacob, Gerry Kaye, Sarah Ellen, Donald William, Blake, Rosemary and Phoebe joined the family. Jean also rejoiced as six great grandchildren were born. "Sweetie" delighted in spoiling them all. They were the apples of her eye.
While many people do not find true love even once in life, Jean was blessed to find it twice. Many years after the death of her husband, Jean reconnected with a dear friend from Silsbee, Raymond Tennison. To the surprise and delight of friends and family, they found themselves falling in love. Jean and Raymond were married in 2008. Their time together, though too short, was very happy, filing their lives with love, laughter, respect and companionship.
Jean was an extraordinary woman. Her energy, enthusiasm and sense of humor were an inspiration to all who knew her. "Sweetie" loved her family above all else and made this world a better place because she was in it. Her fun loving spirit will never be forgotten by all who knew and loved her. "Thank you God for life!"
Jean was preceded in death by her first husband, William Wyatt Wiggins; her sisters, Maureen Fowler Jackson, Geraldine Fowler Brackin and brothers, Robert and Parr Fowler.
Jean is survived by her husband Raymond Pearson Tennison; sisters, Josephine Fowler White, June Fowler Dudley and her husband Warren; sisters in law Sarah Fowler and Naomi W. Haynes; daughters, Maureen Winchell and her husband, Dean, Kathleen Hambright and her husband, Robert, Carol Hearn and her husband, Donald Frank, Jo Bienvenu and her husband Mike, Gerry and her fiance, Lum Caswell Edwards III, and Dinah Morgan and husband Ed, Annette McFarlin and husband Rusty, Terry ElSakka and husband Tarek, and Raymond Tennison Jr and wife Marilyn; Jeans surviving grandchildren are Shanda Kahla and her husband, Toby, Jacob R. Thompson, Gerry Kaye Salvaggio and her husband, Joel, Sarah Ellen Hearn, Donald William Hearn, Blake Royer, Rosemary Elizabeth Hambright and Phoebe Eaheart Hambright. She is also survived by six great grandchildren and many beloved nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held on Friday, January 28, 2011 at 4:00 P.M. at R.S. Farmer Funeral Home in Silsbee, Texas with services to follow at 5:30 P.M. Honorary pallbearers are Dean Glenn Winchell, Robert John Hambright, Donald Frank Hearn, Michael David Bienvenu, Lum Caswell Edwards III, Raymond Pearson Tennison Jr, Ed Morgan, Rusty McFarlin and Tarek El Sakka.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Silsbee Little Theater Building Fund, P.O. Box 890, Silsbee, Texas 77656 and the University of Texas Longhorn Foundation, P.O. Box 7399, Austin, Texas 78713.
