Jean A. Hobbs

  Jean A Hobbs passed away Monday, July 8, 2024 in Rio Rancho, NM, where she had resided for the last 3 years.

 Jean was born in Goodrich, ND in 1934 and moved to Bismarck with her parents when she was 9. She graduated from Bismarck High School in 1951, then attended the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, where she joined Delta Delta Delta sorority. She majored in English, with a minor in music. After earning her degree in 1955, with teaching certificate in hand, she moved to California to be near her two older brothers, and ended up meeting and marrying Ralph Donald “Don” Hobbs in 1956.

 The couple had two children, daughter Barbara and son Larry. The family moved to Phoenix, AZ as Don started his 28-year career with John Deere Company. Subsequent moves were to Lima, Peru, South America, San Mateo and Pacifica, CA, Gresham, OR and finally Yakima, WA.

 Jean taught in many ways and places. She gave piano lessons in Phoenix, including giving lessons to her daughter, and later to her son. Additionally, Jean was a substitute teacher while living in Pacifica. She also found a way to share music with her community and church in every new place of residence. This would usually start with joining a church choir or community chorus, becoming soprano soloist, and also accompanist, on either piano or organ. She played for many a Sunday service or funeral, with weddings too numerous to count. Notably she played for the weddings of her nephew Dave and his wife Kris Hobbs, and her daughter Barbara to husband Dave Elwood. These activities made her very happy, and led to many enduring friendships.

 Besides her involvement in music, Jean had a passion for cats. Live ones, ceramic ones, cat earrings, all types of cats adorned her attire and her home. While being a stay-at-home mother, she found time to sew and to do embroideries, putting together jigsaw puzzles, or reading novels. She enjoyed word games like Scrabble and Boggle, and took pride in her knowledge of English grammar, spelling and vocabulary. She was a member of HK chapter of PEO in Yakima.

 Jean lost Don, her husband of 64 years, in December 2020. She is survived by daughter Barbara (Dave) Elwood of Rio Rancho, NM and son Larry Hobbs of Sultan, WA, as well as two grandsons, Kevin and (Megan) Hobbs of Spencerport, NY and Bryce Hobbs of Kirkland, WA, two nieces and three nephews.