Obituary of Jean Livingston

Jean Spencer Livingston died November 24, 2011, at Skiff Medical Center in Newton. Edna Jean Spencer was born July 31, 1916, on a farm near Moville, Iowa, the second child of Ross and Edna Spencer. She attended rural school until eighth grade, when she entered the Moville Public School where she graduated in 1934. She received a BS Degree in Applied Art, Home Economics at then Iowa State College. On January 14, 1940, Jean and Donald Livingston were married at her parents' farm home near Moville. After a year in Kansas City, Missouri, Don and Jean moved to the Livingston family farm near Monroe, Iowa. That was their home until 1998, when they moved into Park Centre Retirement Home in Newton. To this marriage a daughter Mary Catherine, and son, John Spencer were born. The farm years were very happy ones. Jean loved the space, and quiet, and the beauty of the country. She enjoyed the closeness of family living and was happy that the children were involved in the work and fun of the changing seasons. She was grateful for her marriage of 70 years to Don, the love of her life. Jean was a member of the United Methodist Church, Iowa State University Alumni Association, P.E.O. Sisterhood, Monroe Women's Club, I.S.U. Extension Committees and several Bridge Clubs. Gardening, reading and travel with Don were a joy to her. Her treasures were her family and friends. Jean was preceded in death by her parents, a sister Audrey Spencer Bickford and a brother Norman Adams Spencer, and on November 2, 2010, her husband, Don. She is survived by daughter Mary Livingston Anderson, son John Spencer Livingston and his wife, Jean Ann Holmes Livingston, and three granddaughters, Sarah Livingston Smith and husband Andrew, Elizabeth Anderson Gross and husband Tony, and Amy Livingston and husband Eli Asarian. No funeral services are planned at this time. Memorials may be sent to The Nature Conservancy. Online condolences may be left at www.pencefh.com