Jean, as she preferred to be called by her friends and family, was born in White, S.D., on Sept. 15, 1924, to Charles and Constance Brink. In her teens, her family moved to Dixon, Ill., where she met her future husband, Edwin L. Hoover.

She worked in a munitions factory during WWII, making the ammunition that Eddie would use in combat. They were married on July 12, 1945, when he was home on leave. They had a daughter, Connie, in 1950 and later moved to California, where they had a second daughter, Cheri.

Jean worked throughout her life, as everything from dance instructor to an executive secretary to a physical education teacher, well into her 60s. Her daughters brought her six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, which she loved dearly. Her husband, Ed, passed in 1998, and shortly thereafter she moved with her daughter Cheri’s family to Washington state.

Jean loved to dance, and through dancing at the South Whidbey Senior Center she met the second love of her life, Ned Babcock. Ned and Jean were married on Sept. 30, 2000, and together they shared their love until Ned’s passing in 2007.

Throughout her life, Jean was active in her church, where she served her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

She is survived by her daughter Cheri (Steve); grandson Scott; grandson Cliff; granddaughter Tamee; grandson Steven (Sherry); granddaughter Ellen (Ross) and their children Lucie and Elias; granddaughter Joanna (Joseph); and niece Cheryl (Rick) Stallings. Jean went home to be with her Lord, Oct. 30, 2020.