Jean Gray Verbeke

Jean Gray Verbeke, 91 years old, died after a short illness on Monday, Aug. 29, 2016, at Karen Ann Quinlan Home for Hospice, Fredon Twp., N.J. Born to Clarence and Grace Harris in Paterson, N.J., she lived there before moving to Blairstown, N.J., in 1952.
Jean worked many jobs over the years starting as a NJ Bell telephone operator in Paterson. She also worked for Curtiss Wright in Paterson making airplane parts during WWII and later worked as a soda fountain clerk at Myers Brothers Department Store in Paterson. Jean was a clerk at Britt’s Department Store in Newton and was a secretary at Gordos in Frelinghuysen and a secretary at Nova University in Broward County, FL. She worked as a clerk at Soap Opera in Lafayette and as a clerk at Blairstown Drug Store, retiring in 2002. Jean was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Blairstown, served as past president of the church’s Woman’s Club and was a Sunday School Teacher. She was past president of the Warren County Senior Citizens and served on the Election Board of Warren County. Jean was a member of The Order of Eastern Star, she was a 4-H Leader and volunteer for the Newton Medical Center Auxiliary.
Jean was predeceased by her husband, Robert L. Verbeke (1990) and a sister, Grace Heil and was the devoted mother of Debra Franek and her husband, Michael, of Branchville, N.J., and Edward Verbeke and his wife, Eileen of Maine. Loving grandmother of Gabriel, Ariel, Rhonda Dawn and Christopher and his wife, Laura. Also survived by 5 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
The family will receive their friends for memorial visitation at the First United Methodist Church of Blairstown, 10 Stillwater Road, Blairstown, N.J. on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, from 9–10 a.m.. Memorial service to follow at 10 a.m. Arrangements under the direction of F. John Ramsey Funeral Home, One Main Street, Franklin, NJ. Memorial gifts to Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice, 99 Sparta Avenue, Newton, NJ 07860 or the First United Methodist Church of Blairstown Woman’s Club. Information and condolences can be found at www.fjohnramseyfuneralhome.com.