Jean Macioce, 95, passed peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, on March 8, 2018 at 4:08 pm.  She was born in Blackwell, Oklahoma on April 5th, 1922, first child to Archie and Bertha Via.  Jean's paternal grandfather founded one of the first Baptist Churches on the Cherokee Strip in Oklahoma. Her mother graduated from college with a degree in music and played the organ for the Baptist Church for 20 years.

Jean became an accomplished violinist in high school and played in the Via (violin) Trio with her brother, Bud, and sister, Virginia Lee.  When her youngest sister, Jo Ann was born, The Trio became The Via Quartet!  They enjoyed singing together throughout their life.   Jean earned a Bachelor's Degree of Fine Arts in Music at OSU (formerly Oklahoma A&M) in Stillwater.   Following college, Jean studied at the De Young Vocal Studios in Chicago for a short time before volunteering in the Women's Army Core (WAC) in WW II.  She served as a surgical technician and an instructor, earning the rank of sergeant.  She instructed wounded soldiers in order to secure their high school diploma, taught piano and voice, and directed an army choir.  In later life, she earned a Master's Degree at MSU (formerly SMS), in Education.

The following was lovingly handwritten in 2012 by her late husband, John Macioce, before he passed away in 2015.  It has been elaborated upon by her children.

Jean is the saint of my life. The only one I ever knew.  I have never heard her speak ill of any person.  She is always positive.   Jean is always working for her brothers and sisters of this earth without monetary returns.  In her young adult years, Jean gave free violin and piano lessons to unfortunate children. Jean taught 3rd-6th grade at Doling School for 17 years.  In later years, she delivered meals-on-wheels to the elderly and gave time to Victory Mission here in Springfield.  Jean played violin for the Springfield Symphony.  She directed junior and seniors' choirs at Christ Episcopal Church starting in 1951 for 17 years.  In the mid 1950's, Jean directed the junior choir when they sang on Red Foley's Live Show, Ozark Jubilee.  The show took place right here in Springfield, at the downtown Jewell Theatre.  It aired live on national television with 25 million viewers.  In 1971, Jean and I took a leap of faith and decided to help establish an Episcopal Mission Church here in southwest Springfield, called Ascension.  Along with many other services, Jean established and directed the choir at the new church for close to 20 years, before returning to Christ Episcopal Church in 1994.

Over the years, Jean was passionate about breathing life into the local Episcopal Diocese Church Camps.  First, a Choir Camp at Camp Shawio, and then she went on to create an innovative curriculum based on The C.S. Lewis, Chronicles of Narnia, at Cliff Springs Camp for elementary through high school age youth.  The last summer she directed this popular program there were over 400 attendees.  Among many things, a storyteller would magically appear from the forest at dusk, followed by singing around the campfire with Jean, and her guitar.  Peals of laughter and joy would ring around the campfire to every ones' heart content.  Jean also enjoyed leading Sunday School and Summer Vacation Bible Schools, all while raising her family!  Unbelievable!!!   And if this wasn't enough, Jean also made puppets, wrote scripts, and directed a puppet show that aired on the local show called The Children's Hour on KY-3.  Punch and Judy were two of her most memorable characters.

At age 40, Jean took ballet lessons. Her spouse drew the line here!  At age 65, Jean took her first ski lesson in Colorado. Her instructor took her to the upper slopes and said the best way to learn is to go up high, and ski down. She did it!  Unbelievable! We also took the mule ride down the Grand Canyon. She said she would never do that again.  Then she proceeded to take her granddaughters on another mule trip back down the canyon.  Jean enjoyed taking her granddaughters on trips every summer.  We have traveled all over the United States and have enjoyed 68 years together.   We had a ball jitterbugging and singing.  We took pleasure in a lot of concerts, musicals, and Little Theatre productions.  We have had so many good friends at Christ Church, Ascension, and in Cursillo. We miss them all.  We were fond of hiking, camping, swimming, biking, floating and horseback riding.  Maybe I liked the horses more than Jean.

Jean wrote a book about her dad's experience during the Oklahoma Run and a spiritual book about living life.  She was an avid reader and painted quite well. Jean is the most interesting person I have ever known. --MACE

Jean is survived by her sister Jo Ann, 4 children, 2 daughters-in-law, 2 sisters-in-law, 3 granddaughters, 4 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Celebration of Jean's life will be held Saturday, April 7, 2018 at 10:00 AM at Christ Episcopal Church, 601 E. Walnut St., Springfield, MO 65806.  Prelude music will begin at 9:30 am.  Jean's ashes will be inurned in the Christ Church Columbarium during the service.  Donations in memory of Jean for the children's choir and their traveling ministry can be sent to the above church address.  Online condolences may be left at www.gormanscharpf.com .