After a short, fierce battle with cancer, Jean Louise Paxton returned home to heaven on Monday, September 4, holding her husband’s hand. Jean was born April 23, 1943 to William “Fred” and Louise Jeanetta Wood of San Francisco, CA. As a teenager she lived for a short time in Hong Kong where she developed a love for China and Traditional Indian Dancing. She returned to the States and graduated from Sir Francis Drake High School in Marin County, CA.
Jean attended Brigham Young University where she majored in Sociology. While attending school there, she met her sweetheart and eternal companion Thornton Shirrel Paxton. Thornton and Jean were married in the Manti Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on Sept. 18, 1962, and spent 61 beautiful years together.
Although she had a desire to be a teacher, Jean left school early to be a full-time mom and spent the next nearly 30 years caring for and educating her ten children. Her family was her life and her joy. She taught her children to value hard work and to love and respect everyone. Jean was widely known and very much loved by those who knew her. She had an easy-going nature and infectious laugh that set many at ease. Her home and heart were always open to children and youth; whether it be as a Daycare service, which she ran out of her home for several years, the neighborhood “hang out”, or welcoming the several foreign exchange students she accepted into her home for a cultural experience.
As her family grew and moved away, they continued to be the focus of her life. The family enjoyed “Grandma” sponsored family reunions to make sure she got to see her kids and grandkids. Thornton and Jean were always jumping in the car to make a road trip for the latest wedding, baby blessing, baptism, missionary farewell...sometimes having to make a grand tour to catch multiple life events in different states on the same trip.
She was a fierce advocate for public schooling and served the community as a paraprofessional school nurse at BHMS and as a substitute teacher. She eventually entered the political sphere when she ran for the school board in 2000. She served two terms as a member of the Boulder Valley School Board (2001-2008). In one of their annual family Christmas letters, she was described as always being busy in “school activities to Improve Public Schooling, reduce class size and obtain funds from Colorado State surpluses for school improvements.” She was recognized for her public-school advocacy when she received the “Heart of Broomfield” award in Education for 2002, and in 2009 when she received the “McGuffey Award” from Boulder Valley Schools. In addition to her civic responsibilities in education she served as the President of the Broomfield County Republican Women’s Club (2014-2015).
Jean had a great love for her Savior, Jesus Christ, and actively served in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in many capacities throughout her life. A few of these capacities include serving as the president of the women’s organization in her local congregation. She also served as a Sunday School teacher and for three years she served as a seminary teacher for High-school aged students. She and Thornton also served as workers in the Denver Temple for six years. In September 2011 she and Thornton were called to serve for 24+ months as service missionaries to assist in the dry pack cannery for her church.
Jean was preceded in death by her parents and her younger brother Dennis (and his wife Vanna) Wood. She is survived by her husband, Thornton Shirrel Paxton; her Children: Alexia (Ron) Williams, Dori (Rob) Eggett, Richard (Karen) Paxton, Katrina (Brett) Boyer, Danelle (Tom) Hall, Christian (Ali) Paxton, Wally (Ronni) Paxton, Jeremy (Molly) Paxton, Nick (Angie) Paxton & Francine (Ammon) Palmer; her 44 Grandchildren and 16 Great grandchildren.
Services will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1250 Main St. Broomfield on Friday Sept. 15th at 10 AM. A viewing will be held just prior to services at 9 AM at the Church. There will also be a viewing 6-8 PM on Thurs. Sept. 14th at The Rundus Mortuary, 1998 W. 10th Ave. in Broomfield.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to your local public schools or impactoneducation.org, crayonstocalculators.org or broomfieldfoundation.org.
