Jean Derry
March 3, 1932 – May 27, 2018
Berlin American High School, Class of 1948
Jean Derry, age 86, a longtime resident of Jupiter, Florida, passed away peacefully on the morning of May 27, 2018, at The Waterford in Juno Beach.
She was born in Washington, D.C., to Eva and Eldred Crews. She graduated from Berlin American High School in Germany and was a member of the first graduating class of the U.S. Department of Defense Overseas Schools following World War II. She maintained her association with her schoolmates throughout her life and remained active in the Overseas Brats community.
She attended Westhampton College of the University of Richmond, Virginia, and graduated from Mary Washington College of the University of Virginia with a degree in Political Science and History and a minor in Foreign Language. She later earned a master’s degree in education from Florida Atlantic University. She taught in California, Venezuela, and Palm Beach County, Florida, retiring after 29 years of service.
Throughout her life, Jean traveled extensively, visiting more than 130 countries and collecting dolphins, lighthouses, and Christmas nutcrackers. She volunteered as a guide at the Jupiter Lighthouse Museum and served as a tutor at The Waterford, assisting employees with reading, spelling, and English grammar.
She was preceded in death by her two husbands, Bill Owens of California and Joseph Derry of Jupiter, Florida.
She is survived by her daughter, Jan Derry-Jensen and husband John Jensen; her son, Joseph Fredrick Derry; her stepdaughter Megan; her stepsons Bill, George, and Matt Owens; her brother Merrill Crews; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A celebration of her life took place on Friday, June 1, at The Waterford Tower.
Condolences may be shared with her daughter at janjohnjensen@gmail.com.
She had been a member of Overseas Brats since 1999.