Jean Margaret Reynolds
“Accept my existence or expect my resistance.” This could have been Jean’s motto, and she lived it with gusto throughout her remarkable life.
Born on Chicago’s South Side, Jean learned self-reliance early but never lost her love of laughter and music, inspired by her fun-loving parents and extended family.
An early artistic spark at age 10 won her free Saturday art lessons at the Chicago Art Institute, igniting a lifetime of painting, pottery, jewelry-making, and sculpting. Her creativity extended to theater and the Junior League Follies’ high-kick line.
Jean excelled in publishing and editing, working at J.P. Lippincott and Northwestern University. Her keen eye for detail made her the go-to person for proofreading among friends and family. Jean’s various jobs represented a journey of applying her ever- evolving self-awareness, particularly her time working as the office manager at Womanspace in Rockford, Illinois. The Women’s Movement was fully embraced through self-growth classes, assertiveness training, and strong, evolving leadership individuals.
Jean believed “change is good “and advised young people: “Take your time making decisions, but remember—there are no forever decisions.”
Known for lightning-quick wit and loving every dog she met, Jean never left home without lipstick and maintained timeless elegance through age 97.
Her most significant role was being a devoted mother to Victoria (Bill Edmands), Steven (Diana Lambrecht), and Andrew (Debra Barnes). She delighted in seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Jean spent 25 years at Valle Verde in Santa Barbara, her longest stay anywhere. There she built strong friendships across all ages and backgrounds, participating fully in community life.
Jean’s philosophy: life’s too short not to speak your mind, too precious not to find fun in it, and too beautiful not to fill with art, music, and people you love.
In honoring Jean, her wishes would be to support Assisted Hospice of Santa Barbara and the National Humane Society.
