Jean was born November 6, 1930 to Irvin and Fern Carey in San Diego, California. Her father was a Naval Commander during WWII. Jean and her brother Irvin moved often. Once on a ship to Hawaii she met Shirley Temple. Jean spent her teen years living in Oakdale where she attended Oakdale High School and met her husband of 70 years Kenneth Gregg. Jean was a homemaker until they bought the Oakdale Garage from Kenny’s dad. She then took over the bookkeeping duties. She had numerous side jobs including working at the Oakdale Library, Hunt’s Cannery as a payroll clerk and at State Savings. She went on to acquire and manage various investment properties around town.
She was a member of Oakdale Community Methodist Church where she and her husband belonged to Twigbenders. She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi, Soroptimist, Oakdale Chamber of Commerce, Friends of the Oakdale Library, local bowling teams, and she was very active in local Bridge groups.
Jean traveled to Spain, Branson, Missouri, Florida, etc. ... with her friends; to Nova Scotia and Niagara Falls with Ken. In 1970 she and Ken started traveling with a group of friends to San Carlos, Mexico. At first staying in their motorhome, then casitas and eventually they bought a house there. They lived in Mexico half the year, Quesnel B.C. two months out of the year and Oakdale the remainder of the year. Jean lit up a room with her infectious smile and was a giving, compassionate person. At one time she knew almost everyone in Oakdale. She adored her nine grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren who affectionately called her Gramma Dolly. She will be dearly missed!
Jean is preceded in death by her parents and stepparents; Scott and Fern Neff, and Irvin and Frances Carey, sister-in-law Ruth McLaughlin, two nephews (Gary and Michael McLaughlin) and great grandchildren Justin and Madelyn Worley.
She is survived by her husband Kenneth, four children; Sandra (Richard) Worley, Carey (Patricia) Gregg, Jody (Dennis) Scroggins and Suzanne (Chris) Lang. Nine grandchildren; Britt Saunders, Matthew Scroggins, Gregg Worley, Shannon Powell, Christopher Lang, Michael Gregg, Melissa Morey, Christain Gregg and Keith Lang; her 15 living great-grandchildren; her brothers Irvin (Emma) Carey, Jim (Pat) Carey, brother-in-law Dale McLaughlin; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Graveside service will be at Oakdale Citizens Cemetery on Friday, March 30 at 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association, to fight this devastating disease that claimed our lovely Mother and Grandmother.
The Oakdale (Calif.) Leader
March 28, 2018