Obituary of Jean A Horton

Jean Ann Horton (Stirling), who spent her life bettering the lives of so many others, quietly passed away Saturday, November 22, 2014. Mrs Horton was born August 8, 1925, the eldest daughter of Fredrick G. and Ruth E. Stirling. She spent the better part of her childhood in Maplewood, NJ; graduating from Columbia High School in 1943 and then Skidmore College in 1947. After graduation from Skidmore, she planned to continue her studies in Boston, while her recently married husband, John, obtained his PhD from MIT. However, as with many a woman's dreams, both then and now, the birth of her first child changed her ambitions. Not one to be deterred, she went on to spend her life continuing her many social works. Mrs Horton, her husband John P Horton and their children; John Jr, Peter, Sarah and Melissa, moved from Maplewood to Bernardsville, NJ in 1958. After a short time sorting out her children, new home and community, she volunteered at the Matheny School in Peapack, NJ. Every Christmas she took her children to the pageant, quietly instilling her values and her commitment to the lives of others less blessed. She was a founder and tireless advocate of both the Friends of the Shelter and Friends of the VNA's Adult Care Center, both in Basking Ridge, NJ. She was a life member of the Bernardsville Garden Club and for many years served as a volunteer in the Bernardsville Public Library, later serving on its Board of Trustees. Her generosity, both financially and with her time, seemed to know few boundaries. Every year, when purchasing her family's Christmas roast, she donated an amount equal to the cost of the roast to those without a holiday meal; her rationale for generosity being quite simple. In the midst of her good works, she, and her husband John, found the time to explore the world. She and John journeyed to almost every part of the globe by almost every mode of transportation imaginable; joyfully discovering the lives, cultures and especially the food of faraway places and peoples. Mrs Horton, a lifelong member of the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church, served as Deacon and Elder. For all those in and outside her church, she aptly defined the term, "Christian Woman". She is predeceased by her husband of 50 years, John, and her brother, John Stirling. She is survived by her four children; John Jr and his wife Heidi Rankin of Woodbury CT, Peter and his wife Lisa of Tappan NY, Sarah and her husband Luke McGrath of Branchburg, NJ and Melissa Banks of Potomac MD. She is also survived by her sister Mary Campbell of Madison, NJ. Without question, she was happiest when her 4 children and 11 grandchildren celebrated her birthday each August 8th at her summer home in Sea Girt, NJ. May she forever rest in peace. Her life and deeds will be celebrated the afternoon of Saturday, December 6th, 2014, 3:00pm in the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers she has asked that donations be made to either the Visiting Nurse Association of Somerset Hills Adult Care Center, 200 Mt Airy Rd Basking Ridge NJ; or, the Friends of the Bernardsville Library, PO Box 455, Bernardsville, NJ. For further information please contact Gallaway and Crane Funeral Home at 908-766-0250, or to light an online condolence please visit our website at www.gcfuneralhome.com .