Mum was born and grew up around Rockhampton, with her 2 sisters and baby brother John. She came from a farming family surrounding the market town of Thornbury and enjoyed riding in her early years.

Mum attended Thornbury Grammar School and could still name every person including the teacher on her school photograph, this was in a photograph book she received for her 90th birthday from her granddaughters.

Mum then found employment at National Westminster Bank, The Plain, Thornbury, where she worked until she got married and had her first child Michael. Many many years later the bank got in contact with mum. Whilst they were doing refurbishments in the bank,  they had found her fountain pen she had been given when she started her first job, under the floorboards. Her pen had been engraved with her name Jean Mary Gazzard, and they returned it to her.

After mums second child Jacky was born, they started a few small family businesses. Early 60s was often found preparing a number of motorhomes for hire, this stemmed from the many family camping holidays which she loved and spent in the New Forest.

Then came the Bantams and Cockerels for the eggs, however we had to get rid of the cockerels as they were quite aggressive. Than after that we had Guinea pigs., however they didn't last very long.

The family was lucky enough to purchase an orchard in Oldbury on Severn from her old manager at the National Westminster bank and Jean was often found labouring away in preparation of building a new home and "Priest Orchard" emerged.

In the mid 60s she attended St Matthias teachers training college in Fishponds, and was often seen bombing around in her light blue mini traveller, especially with her school basket, handbag or piece of toast on the roof of the car, with the police often phoning to say they had found her handbag.

Following her training she secured a primary school teacher position at Pilning C of E school where she met Leslie who was Headmaster. Mum and Leslie moved from Horfield, several years later when they bought Silver Birches in Chipping Sodbury, a home she loved. 

With retirement in mind they purchased the bungalow in Frampton Cotterell which required a certain amount of TLC at the time, completely gutted. Mums treasure was her garden.

They loved their holidays cruises Fjords etc, and regular visits to the Dartmouth Marina Hotel. Mum loved gardening and they both regularly visited Cirencester, Tetbury taking in the Arboretum @ Westonbirt.

Even after her fall in 2013 when she broke her hip and collarbone, she could still be found on hands and knees chasing her 3 great grandsons around the house, lying on the floor and hiding behind the sofas.

After Leslie passed away her dementia appeared and got slowly worse. Her laughter and cheeky humour were one of her best features and her kindness to others.

Mum stayed in her own home the whole time and had carers that lived in, she was so lucky to have some wonderful carers. Lynette, Jill, Margaret and later Candice. 

She will be greatly missed by family and friends.