Eugenia "Jean" Gallien's Obituary
Jean was born November 25, 1931 in Beaumont, Texas and passed away Monday morning May 12, 2014 in Dallas. She was preceded in death by her parents and infant son Steven Gallien. She is survived by her husband Bennie “Ben” Gallien, daughters Kim Harris and Bonnie Ferrell, Bonnie’s husband Ken, grandchildren Melanie Sutton and her husband Bob, Parker Harris, Natalie Hiddemen and her husband Jeff, and Holly Ferrell, great-grandchildren Sam, Quinn, and Betty Lark Sutton, and Crosby Hiddemen, sister-in-law Dee Slauter and Dee’s husband Bill. Jean received her BA in Music at Baylor University and her Master’s Degree in Special Education at East Texas State University. A member of First Baptist Church of Dallas for over 40 years, Jean loved her church and looked forward to attending Sunday School and services each week. Jean was a loyal and loving wife for 60 years. She was a sweet and devoted daughter, mother, and grandmother. Her pleasant and kind personality was instantly apparent to all who met her. She loved her own father dearly. She was also vibrant and spirited as evidenced by the energy she devoted to writing, traveling, and riding her horses. For many summers, she volunteered as a swimming instructor for special needs children. She balanced homemaking with substitute teaching in local school districts. Jean played the piano and enjoyed writing. She recently did research for a book about the impact of WW 2 on the Beaumont area as well as penned several magazine articles. Her favorite travel experiences with Ben included touring Israel and visiting China where they walked along the Great Wall. Her passion was for her horses. Jean rode Topsy as a child and later Merry Blaze, a Tennessee Walker that she cared for just adjacent to her home in Sachse. She looked forward to sharing Merry Blaze with her grandchildren during the holiday seasons and neighborhood children throughout the year. Jean loved her girls and made every effort to help them succeed. She took personal care in sewing wedding dresses for Kim and Bonnie as well as a baptismal dress for her granddaughters. She conducted elaborate Easter egg hunts for her grandchildren, an event which brought her great joy. Over the past few years, she found pleasure and peace on her long walks with Ben along the golf course and in her neighborhood. She commented daily how much she enjoyed the serene view from her kitchen table, particularly the beautiful Sycamore tree nearby. Her gift of spirit, compassion, and tenderness are forever ingrained in her family and their lives will always reflect her virtue and kindness. A service will be held Thursday May 15, 2014 at 11:30 AM at Restland Wildwood Chapel with visitation immediately following the service.
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