Jean C. Gaston, known lovingly as Jeaner, passed away peacefully on July 29, 2026, at her home of nearly 6 years, Grand Brook Memory Care in Wyoming, Michigan.

Born on December 2, 1935, in Des Moines, Iowa, Jean's determination to reach her potential earned her one of 5 lifetime scholarships to Michigan State University. The award was for excellence in both athletics, (tennis), and academics. Scholarship in hand Jean left Iowa by train and arrived on campus in Lansing, Michigan in 1953. There she joined the Alpa Phi sorority and through it met Paul K. Gaston, a Sigma Chi. Paul made Jean the sweetheart of Sigma Chi and the fraternity serenaded her outside the Phi house. Thereafter they married and spent 56 years together building and nurturing a family before his passing. As a wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and mentor she created a home environment filled with color, warmth, wisdom, laughter, and love.

Jean's other activities included writing, hosting unforgettable gatherings, volunteering at libraries, the National Audubon Society, and the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Naples, Florida. She wrote short stories, published several articles in local papers, and acted as a docent to share her enthusiasm for identifying birds, protecting ghost orchids, and experiencing nature.

Whether volunteering, writing or hosting, Jean lived a life of gratitude. She shared her gifts and light with others and softly prompted all those she cared for to identify and reach their individual stars. As Maya Angelou once wrote, "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Jean C. Gaston made people feel welcomed, valued, and loved and wished all to make every day a red-letter day.

Jean is survived by: her son, Harold Gaston, and his wife, Laura; her daughter, Carolyn Gaston, and her husband, Scott Bartz; her grandchildren: Paul Gaston, Hunter Davis, Rachael Gaston, Sydney Alexander and her husband Stone, Jean Walsh and her husband, Cody, and Brice Auguste and her husband, Rolin, as well as several great grandchildren.

The family gives special thanks to the administration, staff, and caregivers of GrandBrook Memory Care for filling Jean's last years with love, care, and comfort.

Jean’s funeral and internment next to Paul will take place on September 8, 2026, their 70th wedding anniversary date. Family and friends are welcome to join us in in remembering and celebrating Jean’s life on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, from 10:30 am to 1:00 pm at 62 South Haven Street, South Haven, Michigan 49090. A funeral service will follow at Lake View Cemetery , 191 Bailey Ave., South Haven, Michigan 49090 at 2 pm.

Jean asked that donations in her memory be sent to the Audobon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, 375 Sanctuary Road, Naples, Florida 34120.