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Jean Tyrrell Travers of Sarasota, Fla., formerly of Waldoboro and Concord, Mass., passed away after a brief illness on Jan. 30.

She was the daughter of Robert and Marjorie Tyrrell, and the wife of William O. Travers, Jr., who passed away in 2006.

Jean was born in Worcester, Mass. on Dec. 21, 1925 and attended schools in Worcester and graduated from Green Mountain College in Poultney, Vt. In July of 1946, she married Bill, her high school sweetheart. They spent the following 60 years together.

In 1955 the family moved from Worcester, Mass. to Concord, where Bill began a long career teaching at the Fenn School. Jean began her career in education as a substitute teacher at the Brooks School in Concord. Jean became a part-time then full time teacher at the school, and eventually became assistant headmistress and then headmistress. She continued in that position until 1980 when she and Bill moved to Waldoboro, where they both began new careers.

In her years at the Brooks School, she was involved in a rapid and extensive expansion of the school. By the time she left, the school had expanded to the point where it needed a new campus, at which time the Brooks School merged with the Nashoba School to become the Nashoba Brooks School. The campus moved from its former Elm St. location to its current location on Strawberry Hill Road.

After moving to Maine, Jean became one of the founding members of Broad Bay Congregational Church in Waldoboro. She served on the diaconate for many years and was instrumental in the growth of the church. At first the congregation met at the grange hall until the congregation was able to purchase the former Baptist Church in the center of town. Jean was involved in all aspects of church life, and could often be seen around town organizing church events.

For many years Jean served on the board of the Lincoln Home in Newcastle. Jean was also a lover of dogs. She and Bill always had yellow labs until Penny arrived, a large Chinook sled dog with a sweet disposition. Her last dog was Snickers who kept her company up until the end. Snickers now resides with her daughter, Kathy. After Bill passed away, she moved to Sarasota where she could be close to Kathy. Jean loved her grandsons and was thrilled to spend time with her four great-grandchildren.

She leaves daughter, Kathy Bittner of Sarasota, Fla.; son, Rob Travers of Shirley, Mass., grandsons, Adam Bittner, Paul Travers, and Mark Travers; and four great-grandchildren, Joshua and Daniel Travers, and Eleanora and Meredith Travers.

A memorial service for Jean will be scheduled at Broad Bay Congregational Church in May.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to Broad Bay Congregational Church, 941 Main St., Waldoboro, ME 04572.

Arrangements entrusted to Your Traditions Cremation and Funeral Chapel, Sarasota, Fla.