Jean Andrew's Obituary
Jean M. Andrew (Merriken) passed away peacefully on September 23, 2024 at Lakeside Assisted Living in Salisbury, MD; she was 93.
Born on April 7, 1931 in Alberta, Canada to LeRoy S. Merriken and Ellenor R. Olsen Merriken, she and her family moved to Federalsburg, MD in 1937 to be close to the extended Merriken family. Jean graduated as valedictorian from Federalsburg High School and attended the University of Maryland. On April 12, 1950 she married John W. Andrew, Sr. and they moved to a farm outside of town where they started a poultry farm, raising laying hens, creating a profitable egg business, and raised broilers. They moved to Old Denton Road in 1959.
Family was always at the center of her life. Jean and John raised four children: Karen Bell (Spicer), J. William, Jr. (Patti), Barb Brooks (Joe), and Ron (Barbara Sue). They were proud grandparents of Meta, Kyle, Andy, Michael, Erik, Ronnie, Colleen, Ryan, and Morgan. They have been blessed with 15 great-grandchildren.
In the 1960's Jean was a kindergarten teacher at Federalsburg Elementary and in 1971 she honed her business skills and created Idlewild Children's Center; an independent childcare center that focused on hands-on education and provided a caring atmosphere for countless children through the 1970 and 1980s. She sold the center and retired in 1985, moving outside of town to her beloved treelined acres on the Marshyhope Creek. Jean loved watching her family grow, reading, traveling, watching baseball, animals (especially cats) and marveled at the nature around her. She was a founding member of both the local Homemakers Club and the Federalsburg Historical Society and a member of the Federalsburg Library book club.
She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Lyal, sister Marie, and John her husband of 54 years.
A funeral service and celebration of Jean's life will be held at 2pm on Saturday, September 28, 2024 at Framptom Funeral Home by the Coales, 216 N. Main Street, Federalsburg. The family will receive callers one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow in Hillcrest Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Federalsburg Historical Society (PO Box 84, Federalsburg, MD 21632) or the charity of your choice.
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