Jean McCord

Friday, January 26, 2007

SIKESTON -- Jean G. McCord, 86, died at 5:35 a.m. Jan. 25, 2007, at Missouri Delta Medical Center.

Born July 15, 1920, in Kennett, daughter of the late A.A. and Mable Gay Robertson Gruggett, in 1940 she graduated from William Woods College in Fulton. While there, she was named William Woods College Beauty Queen and Westminster College Phi Delta Theta Beauty Queen.

A 66-year member of the First Christian Church and the first female chairman of its church board, she also served as elder, deacon and Sunday school teacher there.

She was the founder of the Friday Morning Prayer Group in 1972 and was a charter member of the Sikeston Country Club, being active in its development due to her love of tennis and golf.

Instrumental in getting the Sikeston Area Humane Society established, she started Chapter HB of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, was former president and held all the offices through the years.

In 1948 she was the organizer and first chairman of the 18-member hospital Gray Ladies which is now the Missouri Delta Medical Center Auxiliary.

She was active in the Cotton Boll Council of Girl Scouts of America for 30 years as a scout leader and day camp director.

A giving person who helped the less fortunate and underprivileged, in May 1960, Jean was the first Woman of the Year in Sikeston.

On Sept. 6, 1940, in St. Louis, she married Joseph H. McCord who survives.

Other survivors include: two daughters and sons-in-law, Janie and Will Kaiser of Sikeston and Cindy and Scott Seal of Bentonville, Ark; four granddaughters, Amy Paige Kaiser, a student at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Kailey Seal of Bentonville, Jean Quinn Kaiser of Sikeston and Chloe Jane Seal of Bentonville; one sister-in-law, Amy McCord of Sikeston; three nephews and their wives, Bob and Mary McCord III of Sikeston, Sam McCord of St. Louis, and David and Patsy Urban of Columbia.

She was preceded in death by one sister, Jane Urban; one niece, Carolyn Jean McCord; and one nephew, Bobby Urban.

Visitation will be after 1 p.m. Sunday at the First Christian Church. Services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at the church with the Rev. Mary McCord, pastor, officiating.

A private family interment will take place Monday at Memorial Park Cemetery with Nunnelee Funeral Chapel in charge of arrangements.


The family requests that donations be made to:

First Christian Church 1006 N. Main St. Sikeston, MO 63801

Paid obituary