Shirley Jean Garcia passed away (September 17th, 2021) in National City, CA at home surrounded by her family. She is survived by her husband, Raymond Garcia, her children, Raymond Jr., James “JD”, Becky, and Vikki, her eight grandchildren, Anthony, Raymond III, Abel, James Jr., Adam, Michael, DawnMarie, and Aleks, her 13 great-grandchildren, Rosalie, Abel, Isaiah, Sofia, Zoe, Dee, Karlyna, Jordan, Abby, Collyn, Eyan, Baylee, and Colin, two great-great grandchildren, Laylani and Phoenix. She is also survived by her older sister Wanda Archuleta, of Clarksville AR and younger sister, Martha Fowler, of San Antonio TX, and two sisters-in-law, Caroline and Lorraine of Saguache, CO.

Jean “Jeannie,” was born in Arkansas to Dee and Vera Harris (Brigham) on May 19,1936. She was the middle child of three girls and moved with her family to Saguache, CO in the summer of her junior year of high school.

She met the love her life, Raymond, in high school. Jean and Raymond eloped a week after her 18th birthday and the night of Raymond’s graduation on May 26th, 1954, and were happily married for 67 years. The following April she gave birth to her first child, Raymond Jr. In July 1959, she gave birth to her second son, James “JD”. The family moved to National City, CA in the summer of 1963. Jean gave birth to her first daughter, Becky in June 1964, and followed closely by the birth of her youngest child, Vikki in May1965. She lived in National City where she resided until her death in September 2021.Jean worked for National City School District for 30 years. She worked at many of the schools but spent most of her career at Olivewood Elementary. She loved her job and all the students she would feed that walked daily though the breakfast and lunch lines. She never wanted to see a hungry child; many times paying for meals for children who didn’t have money for meals. Jean had a big heart and would pay for a student to go to 6th grade camp every year. She had many great friends and loved all the people she worked with over the span of her 30 years with NCSD. She shared countless great times with her lifelong friends, Diane, Esther, Elizabeth, Velma, and many more. Many great times were had with these friends at food service conventions and their trips to Laughlin. Jean also spent many years at Las Palmas Park in National City, CA on the baseball and softball fields with her children, where she was either in the score shack or managing a girls softball team. There was always enough food on the table for any friends of her children and warm place for many to sleep. Her house on “C” Ave. was always full of kids.

Jean and Ray returned to Saguache, CO. to live for the spring and summer months every year after her retirement. Again, reunited with many of the extended Garcia family in Saguache, she made lots of wonderful memories. Jean loved reading (especially western books), playing cards, and long drives in the mountains of CO. She and her sisters had annual vacation trips starting in Arkansas and traveling to many southern cities. As her and her sister’s husbands retired, they also joined on many road trips. Jean, her daughter, Vikki, and her only granddaughter, DawnMarie, went on a week-long trip to New York City, and saw many plays, wonderful museums, and sights; a trip to remember. She loved visiting her son, JD, and daughter-in-law, Brenda, in New Hampshire during the fall to see the leaves change. Her son, Raymond Jr., always talks about how his mother made him ice cream from snow, and Becky’s fondest memories are all the support her mother gave her for her love of softball and how she always accepted her for who she is.

There is no love like a mother’s love. Jean's final resting place will be at the Chicago Cemetery in Saguache, CO. Jean always said she wanted some of her ashes spread at the sawmill her father owned in the mountains of Colorado.  Arrangements for her celebration of life are to be determined; all will be notified. We miss you, we love you so much.

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