Marian Jean Griffith Conrad left her earthly body on June 26, 2018 for eternal life with her Savior, Jesus Christ.

She was born to Leslie and Marie Griffith, as the only daughter in a family of 4 siblings, on April 24, 1921 in Omaha, Nebraska. She would fondly recount time with her brothers and the gladiolas her family grew to sell to local florists.

With a keen interest in the functioning of the human body, Jean was a tennis champ, a physical education teacher, a camp counselor, a nurse, a masseuse, and a physical therapist over the course of her life. With an integrated, holistic view of the complexity of the body, Jean would massage her children's, grandchildren's, and friend's feet through reflexology for whatever ailed them (and cure it!).

In 1942, Jean made a decision for Christ that changed the course of her life forever. To deepen her learning, Jean attended Northwest Bible School in Minneapolis. She sought to follow the path of her calling throughout her life, staying active in church even through her final weeks.

Jean was a strong woman. When she got her first car, "Clementine," she had the mechanic give her a tutorial so she could fix it herself. When her marriage ended and she found herself the single mother of three children, she worked extra hours to make ends meet. She would take her children on road trips, tend a garden, and run a small farm, all after putting in long hours as a nursing supervisor. Although fiercely independent, she had a strong orientation toward caregiving, providing treatment and care to those vulnerable and in need as long as she was able.

In her later life, she enjoyed visiting her timeshare in Branson, beating others at ping pong, playing Rummikub with her friends, and traveling across the United States. In the nursing home, she kept a positive attitude and enjoyed visits from her family, weekly worship services at Maranatha, playing catch with her great-grandchildren and taking them to see the baby ducks.

Preceding her in death were her parents, her brothers Lloyd and Lee Griffith, and her son Jonathan Conrad. She is survived by her brother Frank Griffith; her children Charie Conrad and Cindy Vandenburg and Becky and Kevin Chittenden; her grandchildren Emily Chittenden-Laird and Will Laird, Zachary Chittenden and Alicia Lyons; and her great-grandchildren Liam and Conrad Laird, Madison, Reagan, and Jackson Chittenden and several nieces and nephews.

A funeral service celebrating Jean's life will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 29, at National Heights Baptist Church, 3050 N. National, Springfield, MO, with Dr. Vaughn Weatherford, pastor, officiating under the care of Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home.  Burial will follow at Mt. Comfort Cemetery. A family visitation will be held at the church an hour prior to the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to National Heights Baptist Church, 3050 N. National, Springfield, MO 65803.