Frances Jean Gossett

GOSSETT, Frances Jean Gossett, 87 years young, of Steubenville,

Ohio died March 22, 2015 in Austin, Texas. She was born

July 1, 1927 in East Springfield, Ohio, the daughter of the

late Helen Orr and Samuel M. Turrentine. She was an educator

with Steubenville Public Schools for 35 years, retiring at age 78 in 2005. 

In her retirement letter to the Board of Education, Jean stated "...the

biggest reward I've received from teaching is to be counted among those

dedicated teachers who taught me...Teaching, to me, is the greatest

profession in the world."  Jean is an authentic Christian and she

practiced her faith as an active member of Pleasant Hills

Presbyterian Church, then Grace Lutheran Church where she had

been a Council member and Sunday School teacher. 

 

Jean graduated from Steubenville High School in 1945, and returned

to school 20 years later to fulfill a lifetime dream of being a

teacher.  With hard work, many a late night, and unending support

from her husband and boys, she graduated with the highest of

honors, Summa Cum Laude, from The College of Steubenville, now

Franciscan University, in 1970. Ten years later, in 1980, she earned

her Masters of Arts Degree in Guidance from the University of Dayton. 

She also pursued graduate study in the Department of Educational Theory

and Practice at The Ohio State University where she was trained for

her eventual work as a teacher of teachers in the internationally-renowned

Reading Recovery Program.

 

Jean was an elementary school teacher at three different schools: 

Washington, Roosevelt, and Buena Vista.  She was nominated by the

Steubenville City Schools for the "Ohio Teacher of the Year" award

in 1986. In addition to being a full-time educator and learner,

she was an active member of her community. She was vice-president,

then president of Delta Kappa Gamma. In 1979-80, she served as

president of the Association of Childhood Education, Steubenville

Branch, where she later initiated a student art scholarship in

conjunction with the Steubenville Art Association. For many years,

Jean was an oil painter and an active member of the

Steubenville Art Association.  

 

In addition to her parents, Jean was preceded in death by her loving husband

Isaac Watson "Ike" Gossett on March 22, 1995, 20 years ago to the day of her death.  

She is also preceded by her devoted brother Robert "Bud" (Mary Lou) Turrentine,

and her beloved niece Margie who was not so much a niece but more like a daughter

to Jean.

 

Surviving are her three sons, David Isaac (Doris) of Austin, Texas,

Jon Kevin (Alex) of San Francisco, California, and Kerry Lee (Carol) of

Steubenville; grandchildren Pamela Pratt (Matthew) of Ankara, Turkey,

Christopher (Kristin) of Austin, Nicole (Kevin) Bergman of Houston,

Texas, Justin of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, John of Columbia, Maryland,

and Anthony of Pittsburgh; and great grandchildren Cameron, Walker,

Lanegan, Greta, Charlotte, Madeleine, Samuel and Michelle.

 

Friends may call at Dunlope-Shorac Funeral Home at 215 Fernwood

Road, Wintersville on  Friday, March 27th from 5-8 pm. Friends may also

 call on Saturday, March 28, 2015 from 10a.m. until time of services at 11a.m. at Grace Lutheran

Church, 2105 Sunset Boulevard with Reverend Michael Heckathorn officiating.

Burial will take place at Union Cemetery. 

Memorials in Jean's memory may be made to the Urban Mission or to

a charity of the donor's choice.

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