Mary Jean Thompson

Mary Jean Thompson
Mar 10, 1925 - Dec 12, 2017
Mary Jean Graham was born in Duluth, Minnesota on March 10, 1925 to John and Jean Graham, she died December 12, 2017. Mary Jean grew up in Duluth and followed her parents to California after graduating from Denfeld High School. Mary Jean attended Pacific Union College and completed nurse's training at the White Memorial Hospital in Los Angeles where she met her first husband, Neil Coeur-Barron. Neil and Mary Jean moved to Modesto in 1969. After their youngest daughter started college, Mary Jean returned to college at Stanislaus State University to complete a 4-year degree in Public Health Nursing.
In 1979, a college project with a classmate, Kathy Oberg-Erlenbeck, grew into a much bigger project. Mary Jean helped found the Community Hospice in Modesto and continued as its Executive Director until her retirement. During her tenure, Community Hospice grew to serve all of Stanislaus County and the Friends of Community Hospice was created to support the growth and operation of Community Hospice.
Neil died in 1999 and Mary Jean later married Ivan Thompson. Mary Jean and Ivan enjoyed traveling together until his untimely death in 2006. In recent years, she enjoyed visiting with her children and grandchildren, as well as meeting her great-grandchildren.
Mary Jean is survived by her sister Barbara Bullard, her children, Brent Coeur-Barron (Therese Rickard), Heather Trevino, Margo Coeur-Barron (Steve Felton) and Rochelle Masquefa, 5 grandchildren, Michelle Booth (Scott Booth), Derek Wissner, Kyle Bentley (Brittany Bentley), Matthew Trevino (Jessica Trevino) and Chelsea Halverson (Jake Halverson), and 8 great-grandchildren, as well as nephews, nieces, Scottish cousins and many friends. She was predeceased by her sons in law, Tony Trevino and Roger Masquefa.
There will be a viewing Saturday, December 16, 2017 from 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. at Franklin & Downs Funeral Home McHenry Chapel located at 1050 McHenry Avenue Modesto, CA. A graveside service will take place on Tuesday, December 19, 2017 at 11 a.m. at Lakewood Memorial Park and a celebration of life on Saturday, January 13, 2018 at 3:00 p.m. at Modesto Central Seventh-day Adventist Church, 1614 H Street, Modesto, CA
Mary Jean will be sorely missed by her family, her church family and the community she supported for many years. Mary Jean's family asks that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to Community Hospice Foundation, 4368 Spyres Way, Modesto, CA 95356