The most difficult thing I've ever written
Jean C. Thomas of Florham Park died Monday, August 3 at the Compassionate Care Hospice in Dover. She was born February 1, 1927 in Elizabeth, NJ, youngest of five children of Irish immigrant parents. She graduated from Battin High School, in Elizabeth in 1944. In 1948 she graduated from Douglass College in New Brunswick, NJ with a degree in journalism. After graduating, she wrote for the Bayway Today the employee newspaper of Bayway Refinery for the then Standard Oil Company of New Jersey where she met her future husband, Arthur. They were married on May 3, 1958; the couple had two children, Christopher and Mary, who is known as Molly. The family lived in Rahway and Mountainside, NJ, Houston, TX and New City, NY. While living in Rockland County, Jean was a substitute teacher for the Clarkstown School district for many years before becoming a full time English teacher and yearbook advisor at Clarkstown High School South. Arthur and Jean moved to Morristown in 1983 and Jean began volunteering at the Morris Museum and Morristown Memorial Hospital. Jean enjoyed reading, playing bridge and was an avid crossword puzzle fan. She and Arthur enjoyed traveling and visited all seven continents. She kept journals of their trips, three of which were published as articles in the International Travel News magazine. In 2008 the family traveled to Scotland to celebrate Arthur and Jean’s fiftieth wedding anniversary. Jean is survived by her husband, her son, daughter, daughter-in-law, Denise and grandchildren, Lindsay and Evan. A celebration of Jean’s life will take place at the Church of the Redeemer, 36 South Street, Morristown, NJ on Thursday, August 13 at 11:00 a.m. Contributions to the Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, NJ 07960 or the American Cancer Society can be made in lieu of flowers..