Jean Elizabeth Royse, 59, of Mentor, MN, formerly of Blue Springs, MO, died on July 1, 2011, at the Pioneer Memorial Care Center, Erskine, MN. She was born April 10, 1952, to Willard and Dorothy (Peterson) Swanson in Minneapolis, MN. Jean graduated from Patrick Henry High School, Minneapolis, in 1970. She attended Graceland University, Lamoni, IA, graduating with a teaching degree. While in college, Jean became friends with the Thomas and Terry Freeman family whose close friendship she valued throughout her life. Her student teaching and entire teaching career were with the Blue Springs School District, Blue Springs, MO, near Kansas City. She was a special education teacher for 3 years. The remainder of her teaching career was spent at the James Lewis Elementary and the Daniel Young Elementary schools. From 2003 to 2007, Jean was on loan to the Missouri Reading Initiative Program, bringing teachers throughout the state new ideas to encourage students to read. During this time a special person became a wonderful friend to Jean, Ellin Keene of Colorado. She returned to Blue Springs in 2007 and assisted her colleagues with the information and experience she gained while working with the Reading Initiative.
Jean had a great love for students and always sought ways to help them reach their full potential. On numerous occasions she reflected that "there was never a day she didn't want to go to school."
Over the years, Jean was on various teams that received awards for excellence in education. She was "Teacher of the Year" with the Blue Springs School district. Her team won the "Blue Ribbon Award", a national award to school districts with high achievements and efforts. This award won the team a trip to Washington DC to receive presidential recognition. She assisted in overseeing an elementary school project on Economics, a program where students learn to earn, invest and handle money in a business environment. Jean was also proud of her involvement with the Negro League Baseball Museum and the American Jazz Museum in Kansas City, MO.
Earlier in her life she traveled extensively, including a visit to China. Her hobbies included reading, photography, visiting children's bookstores and kayaking, which she said, "I really wasn't very good at it."
On October 20, 2008, Jean married her long time friend, Tim Royse. Jean retired in 2010. They have lived on Maple Lake, Mentor, since. They were members of the Maple Bay Free Lutheran Church.
May God bless the memory of Jean Royse.
Jean is survived by her husband, Tim, Mentor, MN; step-children and grandchildren: Tiffiny (Joe) Hickey, Chase and Rylle, San Marcos, CA; Nikole (Steven) Menezes, Nate and Brooke, San Marcos, CA; and one sister with two nephews, Nancy (Joe) Grimmie, Minneapolis, MN, Alexander and Benjamin. She was preceded in death by her parents.
A memorial service will be held Wednesday, August 3, 2011, at 11 am at the Maple Bay Free Lutheran Church, Maple Bay, MN. Visitation will be one hour before the services in the church. Burial will be in the Maple Bay Free Lutheran Cemetery, Maple Bay, MN.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Cancer Society or the Maple Bay Lutheran Church cemetery or roofing fund.