Jean Delta Galbraith

Jean Delta Galbraith, age 89, of Raymore, Missouri, died August 25, 2011 at the Rehabilitation Center of Raymore. Missouri.

She was born September 8, 1921, At Osawatomie, Kansas, the older of two children born to Thaddeus Delbert and Jessie Mae (Needham) Stevenson. She grew up and graduated from high school in nearby Lane, Kansas. In 1938 she moved to Kansas City, Missouri, attended the Central Business College of Kansas City on scholarship, and began her career with Business Men’s Assurance Company.

In 1941 marriage to Lyle Clifton Johnson, the birth of a daughter and World War II brought her dream of becoming a successful businesswoman to a temporary halt. Working as a waitress at her father-in-law’s restaurant gave her built-in babysitters and the flexibility for frequent visits to her husband before he was sent to Okinawa. After the war Jean and Lyle settled in Kansas City until his death November 11, 1950. They were the parents of two daughters Paula and Ruth.

In 1953 she married Robert Hoyt. This union ended in divorce in 1962. She married George Richard (Dick) Galbraith on July 21, 1964. They lived in Raytown, Missouri, until her retirement in 1986, when they moved to Golden, Missouri, on Table Rock Lake. In 1994 they returned to the Kansas City area, where Jean entered a nursing home due to complications from a stroke. Dick visited her there every day until his death on May 22, 1996. She remained At RHC for 17 years, the longest time of any resident. The family would like to thank the staff for their care for her. From the charge nurse to the CNA’s to the kitchen, bath, laundry, and maintenance staff, there were always people who went out of their way to make Jean smile.

As a young widow in 1950, Jean found she could not support her two children on the salary women could then earn in an office. She worked as a waitress until 1962 when she was able to return to business. From then until retirement she worked her way into increasingly responsible positions most notably at the Ted Green Company and later Lacy and Company. She also served for a time as a vice-president of Mid-Continent National Bank.

In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Carolee Hiles.

Survived by Daughters Paula Neale (Jerry) and Ruth Nelson (Dan); 5 grandchildren, Brian and Russell Neale, Cole and Jessie Nelson, and Jason Keck; and 5 great grandchildren.

Graveside services and inurnment at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 6, at Lane Cemetery,.2 miles West of the crossroads of Cloud Terrace and Wyoming Road, Lane, Kansas 66042.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests the charity of your choice or the Family Council for RCR (Rehabilitation Center of Raymore), 604 Martin, Raymore, Missouri 64083. The council provides activities and special events for the nursing home residents. Jean would be pleased for contributions in her memory to be used to make life brighter for her fellow residents. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.eddybirchard.com.
Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home (913) 755-2114