HORN, Alice "Jean" (Snair) - b. September 16, 1930 - d. September 5, 2026

[patyrn]

Alice Jean Horn passed away on September 5, 2026 after a long and extraordinary life.  Her favorite saying from Thoreau exemplified the life she lived:  "Be not simply good; be good for something".

Jean was born on September 16, 1930 to Arnold Delanson and Jessie Lenora (Horning) Snair on a farm near Grenola, Kansas.  During the Great Depression, the family moved to Sedan, Kansas, and Jean graduated from Sedan High School in 1948.  On August 2, 1953, Jean married William Frank "Bill" Horn.  They raised two daughters, Mary Alice and Amy Jo.

Jean was the youngest of four children, and family was the foundation of her life.  She grew up as the much-loved baby sister of her two older sisters, Kay and Bette Jo, and her brother, Bob.  Her childhood was grounded in a loving extended family, surrounded by aunts, uncles, and cousins.  When she married Bill, her family grew to include the Horns.  She often spoke of how lucky she was to truly love her in-laws, and her sister-in-law, June Book, weas one of her closest friends.  Growing up as part of a large family, Jean loved family gatherings and kept in touch with far-flung relatives.  She always looked forward to the Horning Reunion and loved hosting family at her home.

After Bill's death, Jean moved to Lawrence, Kansas to be near daughter, Mary, and her family.  Although she missed her many friends and the Moline community, she relished time spent with the grandkids.  Matthew, Bryce, and Claire loved living close to their Grammy.  She read to them, taught them to bake Grammy cookies, and helped them with schoolwork. She was a fixture at their school events, 4-H shows, concerts, and athletic events, and they always looked for Grammy in the crowd.

Education was another cornerstone of Jean's life.  She enrolled in the Kansas State Teachers College (now Pittsburg State University) after one of her high school teachers said, "You are going to college, aren't you?".  She considered a career in law but chose to complete her teaching certificate.  In 1950, she began teaching in the Moline School District, and in 1955, she earned a B.A. degree from Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas.  Jean was a dedicated educator, teaching in Moline for her entire 44-year career. She taught all grades from Kindergarten through high school but found her niche supporting and inspiring 5th graders.  Reading was her greatest love, and she passed that love on to her students, daughters, and grandchildren.  We all have fond memories of Jean reading aloud from The Hobbit, The Lorax, Little House on the Prairie, and the books of Shel Silverstein poems.  Mentoring student teachers was also important to her, and one student teacher, Penny Swanson, became her dear friend.

Jean's life also reflected her vibrant faith.  She lived her devotion through Bible Study, daily disciplines, and service to others.  She grew up in the Grenola Christian Church and joined the Moline United Methodist Church when she married Bill.  She remained a committed Methodist for the remainder of her life, serving as a member of United Methodist Women , as a delegate to statewide Methodist conferences, and in church governance.  After moving to Lawrence, she found a new church home at Centenary United Methodist Church.

Jean and Bill spent much of their free time waterskiing and camping,.  Jean was a Girl Scout leader for many years, leading camping and canoe trips.  The couple honeymooned at Lake Taneycomo, Missouri, skiing the entire length of the lake,  They had a small cabin and dock at the old Moline City Lake and spent many summer weekends there with friends and family.  Vacations usually found them camping at lakes or state and national parks, inspiring Amy's career with the National Park Service.  After retirement, their camper primarily headed west to Arizona and Colorado where Amy and Mary were living.  In 1982, Jean and Bill opened the P&J Quiick Mart in Howard, Kansas in partnership with good friends, Penny and Dan Swanson.  The store became a welcome outpost on Highway 99.

Jean will be deeply missed by her daughters, Mary (Kevin) Wilson and Amy Horn (Richard Staniionis); her grandchildren, Matthew , Bryce, and Claire Wilson; numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews; and many friends.  She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 53 years, Bill Horn; her parents; and her siblings, Katherine (Stewart) Fox, Bette (William) Hall, and Robert "Bob" (Betty) Snair.

A memorial service for Jean will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 26, 2026 at Countryside Funeral Home in Howard, Kansas.  Burial will follow at the Moline Cemetery in Moline, Kansas.  The family will receive friends at visitation from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. prior to the service.  Memorial contributions are suggested to the Moline Library or UMCOR (United Methodist Committee for Relief) and may be left with or mailed to the funeral home.  Services have been entrusted to Countryside Funeral Home, 206 E. Washington, Howard, Kansas 67349.

(taken from the Countryside Funeral Home website)