Stonewall Jackson class of '77 |
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Please let us know if you have any photos or stories to contribute. |
 (1977) |
Jean Crozier Ashbrook |
updated 8/9/06
| Schools: Lincoln Jr. High, Stonewall |
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Obituary from Charleston Daily Mail 3/22/2005:
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Our class
made a donation to The Rea of Hope Fellowship Home, Inc. in Jean's
memory.
We received the following card from Jean's mother in early
February 2006:
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Dear Sue & Stonewalls' HS Graduation class of '77, It was very generous of your group to send a donation to Rea of Hope Fellowship Home in memory of my daughter, Jean Crozier Ashbrook. I apologize for the lateness of this note, but any reminder of Jean was so difficult for me. Rea of Hope is fully functioning & helping women who are in recovery from alcohol &/or drug addiction & getting their lives back in order. Thank you for your donation & we truly appreciate wonderful people like you. Joanne Crozier |
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| Tributes: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 | Please submit a tribute of your own |
| #1 by Paul Lewis: |
I learned over the years since we all grew up together that at birth our lives are like a blank piece of parchment paper. Literally, everyone we come in contact with leaves a mark on our lives. These marks are what shapes us and what makes us who we are. From conception to our passing, others shape us good and bad!!!
This is why I am in shear disbelief that no one has taken the time to write a tribute to Jean. She was one of 'The TWINS!', one of the girls that seemed to have it all. All the guys wanted to 'Crush' on them and the girls wanted to be cool and popular like them. As part of the total package, they were not just pretty and popular, they were smart young ladies as well. Yes; they seemed to have the 'total package'!!!
Jean was an ICON in our school years. When she walked by heads would turn. Walt Easly, although not technically in our class, drew this type of attention. Sue Cunningham and Stan McCabe had an electric energy that drew attention; their smiles were contagious and therefore people would seek them out. Rick Lightner and Stacy had smiles that where more mischievous (for good reason), but they brought the fun side to the class. Their humor was something special, always clever and unique. Jean had the head-turning power, the smile the humor. She had it all! Jean was SJHS royalty and therefore, larger than life to the rest of us!
Unfortunately I never had a personal friendship with Jean. However, she always made me feel as if we were friends as she was approachable and friendly, never stuffy or pretentious. (Everything that Paris Hilton should have learned along the way, ha!)
Most people did not know the real Jean and that included me. However, I did have the pleasure to speak with Jean for a long time after a party and I was so surprised at how funny and intelligent she was.
Jean painted a lot of positive paint on so many people's 'parchment of life' and I am so surprised and disappointed that people have not come forward and shared those wonderful stories about this wonderful person that has passed through our lives.
I challenge all of you (at least the ones that take time to read this), including the family to share memories of this wonderful life with the rest of us.
You are only dead when no one remembers you. Jean will live on in my mind as long as I live. Thanks Jean for the positive strokes that you left on my life.
Paul Lewis
I was another person who never had any classes with Jean in my high school years but she was always so friendly when I would speak to her coming from or going to class. She always had a smile on her face and I do know that both she and her sister was very very pretty and popular.
I am thankful for her smiles and the friendliness that she showed although I didn't know her well I would really have liked to known her better.
I think that the best way to remember Jean is to understand that she WAS A FRIEND to everyone she touched. I can remember Jean going out of her way, working her way across the chairs in the auditorium just to say hello. When I think of Jean, I think of her smile! She always had one for whoever greeted her! She was intelligent, honest, and a great friend. I remember at WVU during her freshman year, after talking to her, all of the guys would come up and want to know who Jean was. I guess that sums up Jean; Everyone wanted to know her. She will be missed.
#4 by Beverley Armstead Thomas:
As time goes by, it becomes more and more difficult to see the passing of my classmates. I remember the really sweet girl that Jean was. Jean was the type of person who was always the same, not temperamental or pretentious - but sweet and sincere. When I first met her and Jackie, the key was to remember who had round glasses and who had square! Since beening diagnosied with terminal lung cancer last year, I have done alot of reflecting on my life and it is so true, each person who crosses your path in life leaves a footprint. Some you would like to fade and some you want to keep in concrete to remember, Jean's footsteps in my memory were keepers.
I didn't know Jean and Jackie that well, but I remember that they were both friendly. God bless Jean's family
I thought it would be a great remembrance to pass along the eulogy that was read at Jean's memorial service in Charleston on March 23rd, 2005. It was written and read by a dear friend of our family, Susie Lawrence:
Ode to Jean
The twins had a grandfather
Who was baseball mad,
So they grew up learning stats
From their dear old grandad.
They could quote averages
Of every Cincinnati Red,
As they listened to the radio
Sitting on their bed.
George Foster, Joe Morgan,
Perez and Pete Rose-
The twins knew everything,
That a Super fan knows.
For Jean, it was a start
Of a love affair with sports,
The Cincinnati Reds and
The Mountaineers on the courts.
She followed her favorites,
Whether near or far,
And she and John became fans
Of that exciting NASCAR.
Jean became a whiz
In law firms and such.
Her skills on the computer
Kept her really in touch.
Wherever she worked,
Back they did call.
'Cause she could straighten up an office,
In no time at all.
Jean was the picture of fashion,
No matter what she wore,
She always looked like she shopped
At the most expensive store.
Her earrings, her scarf,
Her shoes and her dress,
Made the rest of us look
Like we were a mess.
But the best part of this fashion,
Was where she rang up her bill.
She got most of her clothes
While shopping at Goodwill!
Joanne, being the best cook,
This world has ever had,
Carried over to Jeanie,
And it was not just a fad.
Jeanie went to the library
And checked out cooking books.
She began to excel,
Like other famous cooks.
First there was Julia Child.
Martha Stewart was next.
They had nothing on Jean Crozier,
Who became a cooking text.
Once on a TV cooking show,
A large turkey was filleted.
She artistically took her carving knife
And in one piece that bird was displayed.
Once she decided to bake a duck,
The recipe said, "Fill with air",
So she got out a bicycle pump,
And filled that duck with care.
When she visited her family,
In W V A,
She whipped up meals
They still talk about today!!
With a passion, was how
John loved his Jean.
The feelings were mutual
As we all have seen.
Jean said that John
Made each day seem new,
He used understanding,
Love and laughter, too.
Jean said he was so funny,
He brightened each day.
It's amazing how laughter,
Goes such a long way.
Jean and John had a home
With a beautiful view,
Decorated by Jean;
Built by John and his crew.
Their house by the water
Was a great source of pride,
And they were so happy
When they became groom and bride.
They had a small boat
And sailed on the canal,
Right next to their house,
Jean and her pal!
She loved being out,
Basking in the sun.
To work in her gardens,
She had a "green thumb".
These were the things
That gave peace to Jean,
Her home, her cooking,
Her gardens of green.
Her husband, friends,
And family, too.
I hope you'll remember Jean,
By what I've read to you.
We're sending her on
With a love that still blooms,
Knowing Heaven needs her
To decorate its rooms.
Jeanie was a wife,
Daughter, sister, friend, and niece,
And now she's an angel,
Who has found inner peace.
This poem really fit Jean to a "T". Unfortunately, because Tony and I, Lyndsay and Alex lived overseas for almost 10 years I didn't get to see much of Jean, but she always tried to make it to WV to see us when we came in. And, being the horrible correspondent I am, I didn't talk to or e-mail her much either. I miss her very much and still find it hard to believe she won't be in the next time we come to WV to visit.
Jackie
I remember Jean. The world has suffered a great loss.
She always treated me as part of everything when we were in school.
Love,
Steve Holstein
Hello every one. Praise the Lord!
I was very upset by the passing of Jean. We were the best of friends
for a few years. I cared about her a lot. I would ask Debbie Otey
often has she heard from Jackie or Jean. I recall a day in Jr.High
when all black had to have the sickle cell screening. I had Jean
on one arm and Jackie on the other. We walked into the lab, and
I said
these are my two half breeds, we all need to be tested, and it
was their mom standing there doing the testing. I think she was
just
as shocked as I was. There are a lot history there. When we left
high school i knew she would be great at what ever she touched.
My prayers will always be with her and her family. This is hard
for
me. If
i ever get the chance I would like to do a living tribute to Jean.
Jackie, you were twins and always will be. Hold on to all that
you guys shared in life, you will never be alone. Friends for life.
Remember God does not make mistakes.
..with love Cookie Hampton and family. Hope to see all who reads
this at our next reunion.
I find the words to Todd Rungren's "A Dream Goes on Forever" express my feelings about Jean far more eloquently than my own:
A million old soldiers will fade away
But a dream goes on forever
I'm left standing here, I've got nothing to say
All is silent within my dream
A thousand true loves will live and die
But a dream lives on forever
The days and the years will go streaking by
But the time has stopped in my dream
We all have our everyday hopes
and fears
And you'll find no exception in me
But that doesn't get me through a sea of tears
Over life's biggest tragedy
You're so long ago and so far away
But my dream lives on forever
I guess I believe that I'll see you one day
For without it there is no dream
You're so far away and so long ago
But my dream goes on forever
And how much I loved you you'll never know
'til you join me within my dream
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