“Jean” Mary Nellajean O’Rear Godfrey of Jasper, age 90, went home to be with Jesus on Monday October 31, 2022, surrounded by family.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, November 5, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. at Collins-Burke Funeral Home, funeral services will follow at 3:00 p.m. in the Collins-Burke Chapel. Chris Godfrey will officiate. Burial will be at McKinley Chapel cemetery, there will be no graveside services.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Morton Godfrey; parents, Ebb and Nancy O’Rear; six brothers, Allen, Rayburn, Dalton, Santford, Wayne, and Delane O’Rear; three sisters, Kate Johnson, Dean Morris, and Peggy Rice; and son-in-law Donald Sanders.
Jean is survived by three daughters, Linda (Danny) Stephens, Patsy (Emmett) Green, and Janice Sanders; a sister, Beverly Cheney; three grandchildren, Jamie (Mark) Webster, Matthew (Angie) Green, Tanya (Daniel) Scarborough; seven great-grandchildren, Emmi Grace, Anna Kate, and J.T. Webster, Nate, Chloe, and Harper Green, and Maddie Scarborough; a host of nieces and nephews whom she loved very much and were very special to her; Rhonda Hart a very special angel who took special care of her for nine years.
Thanks to Comfort Care Hospice for their loving care for six years. Any memorial contributions can be made to McKinley Chapel Methodist Church, 320 Co. Rd. 68, Bremen, AL 35033.
Jean grew up on a farm in Nauvoo with ten brothers and sisters. She remained close to her siblings throughout her life. That love of family overflowed to her husband , children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed the weekly tradition of breakfast (especially biscuits and red-eye gravy) with family.
Jean and her husband Mort were a legacy in their own right with owning and operating Uncle Mort’s Restaurant in Jasper, AL, for over 30 years. The restaurant was voted as one of the best 100 places to eat before you die; it’s safe to say a lot of people ate there over the years.
She loved her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and loved her church, McKinley Chapel. She and Mort worshipped there before their health declined. Those who knew her well will fondly remember her love of flowers, birds, and her Boston Terrier, Sugar, She leaves us a legacy of a life of compassion, love, mercy, forgiveness, sacrifice, and an appreciation of hard work, and determination. We hope all who knew her will follow her example of a life well lived.
