Jean (Hurt) Wheatley, 83, of Murray, Kentucky, passed away on Sunday, January 5, 2025, at the Anna Mae Owen Hospice House with her daughter, Catherine, by her side.
Jean was born on June 22, 1941, in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, to the late Dr. and Mrs. Horace Squifflet. A charismatic and loving presence in the Murray-Calloway County community, Jean dedicated her life to education and service to others. After graduating from Harrodsburg High School in 1959, she attended the University of Kentucky where she earned her bachelor's degree and was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. She began her teaching career in Lexington before moving to Murray in 1965, where she would spend more than four decades as an educator.
Known for her creativity, patience, and wonderful sense of humor, Jean touched countless lives as a beloved fourth-grade teacher at Murray Elementary School. She later served as principal of both Murray Elementary and Calloway County Pre-school, before joining the West KY Education Co-op. Throughout her career, she continued her own education, earning both her Master's in Education and 30 hours above from Murray State University. Her colleagues and students remember her as an inspiring and approachable leader who brought compassion, laughter, and innovation to the classroom.
On June 8, 2002, Jean married her high school sweetheart, Jerry Wheatley. She was previously married to Harold Hurt, with whom she had one daughter.
Following her retirement, Jean remained active in community service, volunteering with the Calloway Collective, Needline, United Way, and the Calloway County Public Library. She was a long-time active member of First Baptist Church, where she sang in the choir and was devoted to her Sunday School class.
While education was her calling, Jean's greatest treasure was her family. She was a loving and dedicated mother and grandmother who found immense joy in traveling with her loved ones and being a part of her grandsons' activities. Her face would light up whenever she shared stories about her family's adventures and achievements.
Jean was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Jerry Wheatley. She is survived by her daughter, Catherine Lane (Arthur) of Brentwood, TN; two grandsons, Clayton and Andrew Lane; two step-grandsons, Dylan and Austin Lane; two sisters, Jane Phillips of Lexington, KY and Mary Ann Witt of Wilmore, KY; and two nieces, Emily Gaunce and Alison Calhoun.
A celebration of life will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, January 25, 2025, at the First Baptist Church in Murray, Kentucky with Rev. Keith Inman and Rev. Boyd Smith officiating. Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Saturday, January 25, 2025, at the First Baptist Church in Murray, Kentucky.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to the Anna Mae Owen Hospice House, 803 Poplar Street, Murray, Kentucky 42071.
Online condolences can be made at, www.jhchurchill.com
