Mary Jean Howard was born February 15, 1938, in Magee, Mississippi, to Minyard and Jerline Grace. She was the youngest of five siblings. She had three brothers and one sister.

As children they enjoyed playing in the coal piles. However, Mary Jean kept an importance of cleanliness and made her friends take baths before playing with dolls. As a child they moved to the Florida shipyards where her father worked building ships during World War 2. As a teenager, they moved to Fresno California where she eventually met her husband of 63 years, James Thomas Howard, who preceded her in death in 2018. They married in July of 1956 and fours years later adopted their first daughter, Lori Ann Howard Gibson (spouse James Craig Gibson). Two years later they adopted their son, James Paul Howard, who preceded her in death in 1995. Finally, five years later they adopted Rhonda H Tripp (spouse Brian J Tripp). Mary Jean lived most of her life as a wife and mother. Over the years Jim and Jean owned and managed a 711 store. They later ran Howard's Market, a small country store in California.

Mary Jean was preceded in death by her parents and siblings, beloved son Paul, her husband Jim, and her granddaughter Casie.

She is survived by her daughter Rhonda and son-in-law Brian, her daughter Lori and son-in-law Craig, her granddaughter Emily Olson and spouse Matthew Olson, and their two children Adaline Marie Olson and Noah Brian Olson, and her younger granddaughter Hannah Tripp and fiancé Chris Jordan. She is also survived by numerous extended family members and close loving friends.

Everyone she met was greeted with a shared smile leading to many deep friendships made easily. She loved everyone that she came across, but had a special bond with her great-grandchildren.

Friends are invited to visit with the family from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, January 19, at Klein Funeral Home - Magnolia, 14711 FM 1488, Magnolia. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, January 20, in the funeral home chapel. Interment will be private.