Jean Boyd

(Sarah) Jean Boyd, 86, of Beavercreek, passed from this life into the arms of her savior and friend, Jesus, on Sunday, December 17 at Hospice of Dayton. Jean was born May 13, 1931, in Ashland, KY, and lived many places all over the United States. Jean was known for her unfaltering, extravagant love for Jesus and for her family, her friends, and her brothers and sisters in Christ. She is known as Grandma Jean or Mama Jean at Apex Community Church of Xenia, where she attended the last five years. Struggling to stand with the help of a walker, she would sing songs of praise with arms raised. She would say amen and agree with teachers of God’s word out loud, even when the room was completely silent, and she was loved and treasured for it. She had an unpretentious, spunky, and feisty spirit that endeared her to all. She was a prayer warrior, depending on God to get her up in the morning and to help any who asked her to pray. Her brothers and sisters in Christ at Springhill House Church (Apex) and Xenos Christian Fellowship of Dayton were especially blessed by her forthright, candid communication with Christ. When she was younger, she loved traveling to Daytona Beach, Florida for family vacations, and enjoyed mini-trips with her stepdaughter, Pat Arnold, and their friends. She had open heart surgery at the Cleveland Clinic in 1969, and was an early recipient of a Starr-Edwards heart valve, which beat faithfully and consistently for 48 years. She is known for her open-hearted gift giving, her sincere love expressed freely in cards and words of encouragement, her honesty about herself and others, her desire to see Jesus in all His glory, and her longing to be reunited with her husband, Clem, who she loved deeply and who passed before her in 1998. She often said she hit the jackpot with Clem, who loved her faithfully and tenderly for 37 years. She is also preceded in death by her father, J.W. Whitehouse; her mother, Minnie; her mother’s second husband, “Pops”; her sister and brother-in-law, Gae and John Marshall; her nephew, Craig Marshall; and grandson Michael John Curran. She is survived by her daughter Vicky Braccini and by Harold Rasnic; her son Steve Curran and by Diane Penrod; her stepdaughter and son-in-law, Pat “Sis” and Woody Arnold; her stepson and daughter-in-law, Doug and Janet Boyd; her son and daughter-in-law, Clem and Julia Boyd; eight grandchildren, Angie Arnold, Amy Panzeca, Tim Price and wife Jenny, Jeni Innis and husband Ryan, Brian Curran and wife Melissa, and David, Bethany, and Mark Boyd; six great-grandchildren, Adam and Alexis Panzeca, Liam and Donnie Innis, Sidney Price, and BJ Curran; nieces Terri Hackley and Tina Barnhart, and nephew Dan Marshall; cousin Stella Thompson; friend and home health aide Joyce Worrell; and her sweet kitty and sleeping buddy, Pixie. Viewing will be held Thursday, 4-7 p.m. at Westbrock Funeral Home, 1712 Wayne Ave., Dayton, OH. Funeral services Friday at 11 a.m., also at Westbrock, with burial at Woodland Cemetery. Jason Wing of Apex Community Church officiating. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to either the American Heart Association or Hospice of Dayton in Jean’s memory.