Obituary: Jean Woolley Poulsen

Jean Woolley Poulsen 1911 ~ 2006 Our beloved mother/grammie died Saturday afternoon, April 8th, 2006, at LDS Hospital, after a two week struggle to recover from abdominal surgery; she was 94 years of age. Born Jean Woolley to Ralf Rumel and Elizabeth Brett Woolley on November 12th 1911, in Salt Lake City, she attended city schools, graduating from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1932. While at the university she joined and helped to pioneer the newly developing modern dance movement. She also met and on September 14th, 1933, married Fred Patrick Barnes. Together they had two sons: Fred Ralf, born December 12th 1934, and James Stephen, born November 18th, 1940. They separated in September of 1941. In July of 1843 she married Clarence Merrill Poulsen. They had a daughter, Elizabeth Jean, February 3rd, 1945. They were later divorced. Mom taught in Salt Lake City Public Schools, eventually going into Special Education, teaching handicapped children. She belonged to various organizations, including the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, Delta Kappa Gamma - serving as President of the Zeta Chapter from 1978 to 1980, and worked with the board of Wasatch Manor. An example of recognition she has received include the Panhellenic "Woman of the Year" award in 1981, and, in May of 1988, was named "Outstanding Community Servant" by the Granite-Salt Lake Retired Educator's Association, and AARP. In later years she's loved nothing better than gathering us together and treating all of us to an afternoon of theatre and dinner at a restaurant. In her Patriarchal blessing, she was told: "You have a special gift that you should share with everyone", and indeed, she did! Mother's great Lifelong Love was playing the piano whether, as in her long-term association with Barbara Prouse, playing for tap dance classes, accompaniment for classes of singing school children Hymns at The Church of Latter-day Saints, and for many years accompanying songs for Primary children. Also playing the piano for family and friends, and they (and we) loved her playing. The piano is silent now, but echoes of her music remain in our hearts. We miss you Mom. And we love you. "Good night. Sleep tight. Don't let the bedbugs bite." She leaves behind her three children, her six grandchildren: Diane, Ralf, Barbara, Erika, Devon and Heather, and seven great-grand-children. She is preceded in death by her mother, father and brother Bret. A viewing will be held Saturday, April 15th, 2006, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., closed for family from 12:45 to 1:00 p.m. to be followed by a service at 1:00 p.m., at the Mountain View 1st Ward, 1400 South 1900 East, Salt Lake City, Utah. SereniCare, funeral directors.