Jean Eleanor Wencker Petree's Obituary
Jean Eleanor Wencker Petree left this mortal world in Dallas, Texas on June 24th, 2016. Jean was born in Dallas, Texas on October 17th, 1918, the only child of Oswald Fritz or ‘Judge’ Wencker, J.D. (1878-1946) and Willie Eleanor McCue (1880-1918). O.F. Wencker was a University of Michigan at Ann Arbor Law School alumnus (class of 1902), early wildcatter and prominent Dallas attorney specialized in oil and land transactions. He was a founding partner of the firm Wencker, Muse & Hamilton officed in the Busch Building (the Kirby). Jean’s mother Willie was a third generation Texan, renowned beauty and notable artist. O.F. and Willie married in 1913. Sadly, Willie was struck with the 1918 ‘Spanish Flu’ and died shortly after Jean’s birth. Jean was raised by her maternal grandparents alongside her extended family in Oak Cliff and was known to have said, “I never knew there was such a thing as the Great Depression. Daddy cared for us all beautifully, even surprising me on my 16th birthday with a new Packard.” Some of her fondest memories were of driving her father to professional engagements from his office, then located in the Republic National Bank Building (the Davis). Jean attended The Hockaday School at the original Greenville Campus (class of 1934) then briefly attended Southern Methodist University. During his senior year, Jean’s future husband Gordon was the star quarterback of Highland Park High, later attending both Baylor University and Southern Methodist University. She and Gordon married in 1942 and settled in their first home on Kingston Street in Oak Cliff. Gordon served in the Army during World War II, becoming a decorated Captain. Post war, Jean and Gordon settled in their family home on Belfort Avenue in Highland Park. In 1953 the family moved to Corpus Christi where Gordon established a land title company. In Corpus Christi Jean was a member of the Delphian Society and local country club. The couple moved back to Dallas in 1966, settling in North Dallas. Jean enjoyed living in the same neighborhood as the new Hockaday School Campus, while Gordon appreciated living next door to famed Dallas Cowboy football coach Tom Landry. Jean was preceded in death by her husband, Gordon Dee Petree, on June 24th, 2002 and son, Fritz Wencker Petree, October 28th, 2014. Jean is survived by her daughter, Sharon Dee Schoech, MSW and husband, Dr. Richard Schoech; Michael Gordon Petree, and wife, Dr. Kathy Petree; David Randolph Petree, RPLS and wife Davana Petree, M.S., MACP; grandchildren, Rachael Petree Ross, Nicholas Petree, Hana Petree and Lydia Petree; great grand-children, Dylan Ross, Ryan Ross, Rex Ross and Drake Ross, as well as, daughters-in-law Debra Petree Bell and Janice Petree McEndree. Jean was a loving, gracious lady who shone in her roles as daughter, wife and mother. She was an avid reader, appreciator of the fine arts and proponent of individualism. At the time of her death she held the distinction of being one of the oldest living Hockaday School graduates. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, July 13th, in the Abbey Chapel at Restland Memorial Park, located at 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, Texas.
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