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August 8, 1925 – November 8, 2024

How does a family write down in the few lines of a printed obituary 99 years of a life lived with courage, purpose, adventure, skill and compassion for others?

This describes our beloved Aunt Jean McHenry, who passed away peacefully last Friday from a life well lived into an even greater eternity with Jesus Christ, her Savior. (Neva) Jean McHenry, lately of Niles, Michigan, was born August 8, 1925 in Moundsville, West Virginia to the late George and Gladys McHenry, and took her last earthly breath as she slept Friday night, November 8, 2024 in Niles.

Jean was preceded in death by her three siblings: Beverly (Tom) Craig, Ashland, Ohio; George McHenry Jr. (survived by his wife Joy), Edina, Minnesota; Carol (Gary) Averill, Mtn. Home, Arkansas; baby nephew Daniel Lynn Craig, niece Linda Farver (Bill), Ashland, Ohio.

She is survived by nieces and nephews Judy (Fred) Rafeld, Ohio; Dorthy (the late Michael) Johnson, Ohio; Mark (Katrina) McHenry, Minnesota; Sue (Tim) Keillor, Minnesota; Stephani (Mark) Wuthnow, Niles, Michigan; John (Melissa) Averill, Alaska; Paul (Barbara) Averill, Pennsylvania and Jim (Andrea) Averill, Pennsylvania. She also had many great-nieces and nephews, great-great nieces and nephews, and great-great-great nieces and nephews living all across America from the East Coast to America’s Third Coast, to the West Coast.

Jean was never married or a mother, but was always involved as much as possible in the lives of her nieces and nephews. She also had three especially good friends throughout her life: Ruth Kantzer, Marilyn Kramer, and her cousin Helen Jean Moose, missionary to China. All of these ladies loved to travel, loved adventure and lived their lives with much compassion and kindness toward others. Jean and Ruth met as young women in Ashland, Ohio as they helped put together life vests for the WW II war support effort from home. Jean played marbles extremely well as an active child (often beating the boys!), and played the trombone in her high school marching band, which performed once for President Franklin Roosevelt as he did a U.S. speaking tour by train.

She sang on the radio in Ashland, Ohio when she was a young woman, in an ensemble that was part of a local Bible program. She worked for many years as a federal employee at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio and at the VA Marketing Center located just outside Chicago, Illinois, where she ordered all the canned goods for all the Veterans Hospitals in the country. She retired in 1985 to Dayton, Tennessee, where she met more good friends Edwin and Jane Ellen Farnsworth and a young man, Marty Kramer, who was like a grandson to her. So much of a life, so much good accomplished toward others. . .we’re so grateful for you, Aunt Jean! Condolences, memories, and photos can be shared with Jean’s family at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.

Jean will be laid to rest in Portage Prairie cemetery, Niles, with visitation starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, November 16 at Sumnerville Bible Baptist Church, Niles and an 11:00 funeral service with Pastor Dan Greegor. Memorial donations may be made to Sumnerville Bible Baptist Church, Niles MI.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services.