Stevensville – Jean Marie Thomas passed away peacefully of natural causes Sunday, July 24, 2016 at St. Patrick Hospital.
Jean Marie Scott was born the youngest of three children on December 21, 1928, in McIntosh, South Dakota, to Frank and Gilfie Scott.
She graduated with an education degree and taught school for many years retiring as Superintendent of Schools in Riverside, California. She traveled the world as a tour director on her summers off and after retiring. Russia was her favorite place and she shared many stories from her travel adventures.
She moved back to Montana where she married her sweetheart, Bob Thomas, a Montana State Representative and owner of a local insurance company in Stevensville.
Jean was a member of the Stevensville Garden Club since 1987 and was an accredited Montana State floral judge. She served as Montana State Garden Club President from 1999-2001 and was instrumental in getting the “Morning Cloak” butterfly designated as the State Butterfly in 2000 after she and other club members brought a group of 5th graders from local schools to testify before the Montana State Legislature as part of a national project. She also served for several years as the Montana State Garden Club Parliamentarian and was also a member of the Victor Garden Club, helping initiate the Victor Blue Star Memorial Garden.
She was an active, caring and loving member of St. Stephens Episcopal Church and attributed her later life to the love and blessings from God and her “Church Family.”
Jean was preceded in death by her loving husband, Bob Thomas, and her two brothers, Willard Scott and Harley Scott. She is survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, July 30 at the Whitesitt Funeral. Internment was in Riverside Cemetery. A reception was held at the Stevensville Senior Center. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.whitesittfuneralhome.com.