Jean M Parrett

Jean Marie (Tennyson) Parrett passed away peacefully on June 11, 2024 in Prairie Village, Kansas. Jean was born on July 16, 1944 in Kansas City, Kansas to Ralph Howard Tennyson and Alma Natalie Eichelberger. Growing up in Kansas, Jean attended Corinth Elementary, Indian Hills Junior High and Shawnee Mission East High School. Jean enjoyed dancing during her school years and performed in recitals and at Starlight Theater. She also spent two summers working at Macy’s in downtown Kansas City, Missouri.

Jean was active in the Village Church youth group where she met Kent Edward Parrett. During the middle of her junior year of college, Jean and Kent married on January 25, 1965. She earned her college degree in Eduction and Library Sciences at Pittsburg State University. Following college graduation, Jean and Kent joined the Peace Corps which took them to Kent State University and Puerto Rico for training before moving to Companaro, Bolivian near Santa Cruz. In Bolivian, Jean led an early education program, similar to Head Start, for the local children.

Two months after returning to Kansas, Jean gave birth to her daughter, Gwendolyn (Wendy) Kay Parrett and her son, Kurt Eric Parrett 15 months later. Jean owned and managed Shipley’s Wallpaper in Fairway for 7 years. She then transitioned into education, beginning as a kindergarten teacher at St. Pius X in Mission, Kansas for two years then Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools for many years. During this time, she received her Masters in Autism Education and taught students with behavior disabilities, students with autism and finished her career as an elementary school librarian.

Jean was a lifelong caregiver and active church member at Village Presbyterian Church, First Presbyterian, Grandview Park Presbyterian and Resurrection Downtown. Jean had a heart for service which was a definitive part of her life starting during her teen years as a candy stripper at KU Med. Jean served in the Peace Corps teaching early education to village children in Bolivian followed by working with children with special needs in various roles through her 28 year career in Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools. After retirement, Jean continued to serve children spending two summers teaching children English in China and as a reading mentor with youth at Wendell Phillips in Kansas City, Missouri.

In addition to serving children, Jean had a heart for caring for elderly friends and relatives for most of her adult life. Jean took every opportunity to provide company, encourage and feed the older friends as their lives and energy were coming to an end.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Alma Tennyson, her Aunt Mary Catherine Bain, her parents-in-law Elmo and Carrie Parrett, her sister Patricia (Patti) Redfern and her brother-in-law Neil Parrett.

Jean leaves behind her devoted husband of 59 years, Kent Parrett; daughter Wendy Parrett and son-in-law Steve Oakes of Kansas City, Missouri; son Kurt Parrett and daughter-in-law Shelley Parrett of Prairie Village, Kansas City; grandchildren Katie Oakes of Grand Marais, Minnesota; Kenton and Alyssa Parrett of Castle Rock, Colorado; Kara Parrett of Prairie Village, Kansas; and sister-in-law Kathryn (Kathy) Parrett of Littleton, Colorado along with multiple nieces and nephews.