Mary Jean Burnett

Born to Sam and Moddest Jordan in Gladewater, Texas, Jean was the youngest and last survivor of their four children.  She was independent at an early age, obtaining a hardship drivers license at the age of 13 to drive a relative from Gladewater to Fort Worth.  She would later graduate from Gladewater High School and move to Fort Worth renting a room in her Aunt Margie’s boarding house along with her cousin Lynn.  While attending church services she met a tall, handsome WWII veteran, Jack Burnett and they soon married.  They had three children, Thomas Jordan, Guyneth Ann, and Robert Lane, which she made sure were raised in the Christian faith.  She had a knack for making each of them think they were her favorite.  In time she would have seven grandchildren and many great grandchildren.

Jack’s job with Allstate Insurance had them transferring each year starting in 1959 to Lubbock, Iowa, Missouri and back to Texas.  In 1963 they settled in what would become the family home of over 50 years in Bedford, Texas.   She developed a passion for travel, traveling to every continent but Antarctica, which included the countries of India, China, and Russia.  Much of the travel she did by herself as Jack always said he had traveled all he wanted in WWII.  The most interesting place for Jean was Egypt and the pyramids, and the place she would like to return and spend time was the southern coast of Spain.

Most of her career was as an Insurance Clerk at Bondurant Brother’s Insurance Agency in Arlington, Texas.  In retirement she volunteered as an English tutor and reunited with her cousin Lynn to be Ambassador Volunteers at DFW Airport helping passengers navigate the airport.

As she needed more assistance, Jean moved from Bedford to the Lutheran Sunset Ministries retirement community in Clifton, Texas.  The family wishes to thank all of the staff and caregivers at LSM for the care and attention they gave our mother over the past six years.

A graveside ceremony is scheduled for Monday, October 9, 2023, at 11:00 at Friendship Cemetery in Gladewater, Texas.