May 27, 1927 – Aug 30, 2022
Jean Bryan (nee: Larsen) lived her life with quiet determination, courage and a huge sense of playfulness. Her Danish immigrant parents, Eleonora Christensen and Axel Martin Larsen were farm labourers in southern Alberta before settling west of Innisfail near Kevisville, AB where they farmed and ran a small logging operation. Jean and her eight siblings worked both on and off the farm to help support the family, maintaining their fun and mischievous attitudes despite the hard work and lack of material wealth. Jean was predeceased by all of her siblings and their spouses (Mary (Gustav), Kenneth (Ruth), Eric (Jennifer), Howard, Norman, Vernon (Vi) and Carol (Don)) except for her devoted sister, Betty Anderson (Bud) and sister-in-laws Phyllis (Howard) and Evelyn (Norman).
Working at a bank in Innisfail, AB, Jean met and subsequently married Charles Gilbert Bryan in 1949. They farmed east of Innisfail until Gilbert’s death in 1984. They raised five children, Robert “Bob” Bryan (Barb Balanger), Roger Bryan (Judy Bryan), Morganne Keplar (Bruce McPhee), Lorraine Bryan (Philip Griebel) and Susan Bryan (Kevin George). Jean was an incredible parent providing kind, non-judgmental support to her children and grandchildren (Monica Rosevear (Dallas), Michelle Bryan, Valerie Maze (Ryley), Megan McPhee (Jeremy Rochussen), Kate McPhee, Angus Bryan (Kale Scarff), Ilsa Griebel (Daniel Udchic), Carson George (Chloe de Grood) and Tori George. In Jean’s later years her great-grandchildren (Brooke and Cole Rosevear, Brynley, Mackenzie and Kai Maze) were rays of sunshine in her life. In addition, Karen Gillies was a great friend to Jean, lovingly attending to many of her needs when she became less independent.
Jean loved dancing and she and Gilbert would attend dances at the Royal Canadian Legion in Innisfail. When widowed, she continued to participate in ballroom and square dancing events. Jean preferred the outdoors and joined a hiking club in Calgary for weekly excursions into the Rockies. Trees were also a passion of Jean’s. In the early days on the farm it was a battle to protect the rows of evergreens from marauding cattle and later in her 70’s she could be found climbing among the huge spruce trees on the farm, pruning them to her liking. Jean was a skilled (and lucky) cribbage player, often winning with spectacular hands, to the chagrin of her much younger opponents.
The family would like to thank the staff and health care aides that genuinely cared for Jean at both the Autumn Glen Lodge (2009-2019) and The Hamlets at Red Deer (2019-2022). At Jean’s request, a private family Celebration of Life will be held at the Larsen homestead. Donations can be made to a charity of your choice or those that protect or restore natural landscapes (Nature Conservancy of Canada, Ducks Unlimited Canada).
