Jean Devore

Jean Elaine (Karns) DeVore, aged 99, passed away in Denver on Sunday, September 19, 2021. Beloved wife of George Orlin for 63 years; mother of Patricia Joanne (Andy) MacMillan and George Orlin DeVore II (Debbie, Brooke, and Brandon Zullo); grandmother of Timothy (Robin) King; great grandmother to Joshua King, and friend to many. Preceded in death by her husband George, her son Tommy Orlin DeVore and her grandson Sean MacMillan. Jean was born in Des Moines, Iowa, on May 19, 1922.  Committal at Ft. Logan National Cemetery, Area A, Thursday, October 7 at 12:00pm; Reception at Horan McConaty HeartLight Center, 11150 East Dartmouth Ave., Denver CO 80014, October 3 at 2:00pm. Contributions may be made in memory of George and Jean DeVore to the George O. and Jean E. DeVore Endowed Scholarship Fund c/o University of Colorado Foundation at 1800 Grant Street, Suite 725, Denver CO 80203.

Iowa Girl – Colorado Woman

This is the story of a long life of challenges and triumphs, strength and compassion, learning and wisdom, and sweet love beyond measure.

Jean Elaine Karns was born into the community of survivors that is Iowa family farmers.  Her father was a road and dam builder who left home when he was 12-years old to make his way in the world and later built Cherry Creek Dam and Rabbit Ears Pass.  Her mom was the daughter of a superintendant of a school district.  She grew up “on the road” because of her dad’s business, attending 11 schools by the time she was in fifth grade.  Growing up during the Great Depression was no picnic for someone whose father owned his own business.  And yet she was in high school musicals and sang in the Des Moines City Choir as a senior.  Jean loved music, drama, and dance; and the Big Band era was just right for her. So it is no surprise that she met her future husband (George DeVore) at the Val Air Ballroom in Des Moines.  After graduating with a one-year degree in business, Jean decided marriage would be a good idea; and the newly-weds were immediately dumped into the harsh reality of World War II.  During the first part of the war, they both worked in the war-support industry with George building airplanes.  In the second half of the war, George tested into officers training in the Army Air Forces and navigated a B-17 over Europe, while at home Jean continued in her “Rosie the Riveter” role building fuel tanks for bombers.

Jean and George became parents for the first time at the end of 1943, and bereaved parents two days later as their first-born son, Tommy, died due to injuries sustained at birth.  Jean’s great care for the welfare of children likely began with this experience.  They would later have a daughter (Patty, 1946) and a son (George junior, 1950) on whom they showered great love and for whom they had great expectations.

After the war, a move to Colorado for George to attend C.U., and raise a family, resulted in the family’s great love of the mountains, skiing, camping, hunting, and fishing.  For the first five years, the family lived in one room upstairs in Grandpa and Grandma’s house.  At last in 1952, Jean and George bought their own home after ten years of working toward this goal.  Jean lived in that same home the rest of her life – nearly 70 years.  Jean and her family were blessed with many exceptional neighbors over the years, as that block seems to attract the most wonderful people.

Over the years Jean and George raised their family in a typical 1950s and 1960s Colorado way with camping, hiking, fishing, skiing, and fun times with family and friends.  For a couple from Iowa farmland, they traveled extensively during WWII across the United States and to England.  Later in addition to a lot of camping, Jean and the family took many trips to visit family still in Iowa, a trip to Canada, and a trip to Disneyland in California.  Jean and George later followed their travel desires around the world to such places as Alaska, Mexico, Africa, Europe, and the Soviet Union.  They were both devoted to C.U. football and traveled to many away games across the western U.S.

As their children grew and had children of their own, Jean had grandchildren and a great grandson to dote on.  In addition there are children growing up on Gilpin Street now who know well the grey-haired lady in 2950 who watched every day to be sure they got home from the school bus safely.

In 2001, great sadness enveloped the family with the death of Jean’s grandson Sean in a sudden accident.  Then in 2004, Jean’s beloved husband passed on to await her on the other side.  She lived out the next 17 years very independently taking care of her home and family as always.  Being an only child, she maintained the family history and became increasingly interested genealogy and in her ancestry.  She was very proud of her Irish, Welsh, and Viking ancestors, as well as her Iowa farm values and upbringing that she lived to the last.  These are the values she wished for her daughter’s birthday a few years ago:  “Pride in yourself for all the wonderful things you’ve accomplished, for all the goals you’ve met – Perseverance to test your own limits one day, one challenge at a time – Courage to live your truth and honor the amazing person you continue to become – and Time to make a life so full of joy it’s overflowing.”

Jean gave up some independence, and driving her car, in her last five years; and she was not at all fond of the COVID isolation of the last year and a half.  Yet she maintained her friendships and her connection with her remaining Karns first cousin in Iowa.  And above all she maintained her quirky smile and her sense of humor, which brought a smile to many faces over the years, including to her daughter, “Patty - All Day Long.”

I don’t know where this originated, but it so applies here:

“She longest lives, Who most to others gives, Herself forgetting.”