Mary Jane "Jean" Pearson

July 6, 1912 - November 29, 2017

Mary Jane “Jean” Pearson, age 105, of Washington, IA, died Wednesday, November 29, 2017, at the United Presbyterian Home in Washington. No services are planned. Jean’s body has been donated to the University of Iowa College of Medicine. The Jones & Eden Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent for Jean’s family through the web at www.jonesfh.com. Jean was born July 6, 1912, in Washington County, IA, the daughter of Thomas J. and Georgina (McCartney) Stirling. Her parents migrated from Ireland, arriving in Boston Harbor, Massachusetts in 1912 and headed to Washington, Iowa to stay with their sponsors and Jean was born five months later. Jean was a lifelong resident of Washington County, growing up on a series of farms where her father worked and her mother sewed for people. She graduated from Washington High School in 1930 and attended Washington Jr. College for two years. Jean attended Nurse’s Training in Burlington, Iowa, for three years. She married Howard O. Pearson on June 28, 1935, in Macomb, IL and they moved to his farm south of Ainsworth. She worked as a Registered Nurse at the Washington County Hospital and she attended the Christian Church in Washington. After Howard’s death in 1995, Jean sold the farm and moved into Kerr Hall at the United Presbyterian Home. It was there that her new friends began calling her Mary. She is survived by one sister, Georgina White of Washington, Iowa; one niece, Janet White Stafford of Killeen, Texas; two nephews: Tom Stirling of Washington, IA and Joe White of Mesa, AZ; and great-nieces and nephews: David and Douglas Stirling, Brian and Michael White, and Lori Chamalbide. Mary will be missed by all who knew her. She was famous for her big garden out on their farm and her love of cats. The family extends their gratitude to the United Presbyterian Home and Hospice of Washington County. Jean was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two brothers and one sister.