Jean Vann Coburn

Jean Vann Coburn, 86, of Muskogee, passed away Tuesday, October 17, 2017. She was born on September 2, 1931 in Haskell, Oklahoma, to Martha Alta (Chapman) Ward and Joe Ruben Ward. Jean graduated high school when she was 15 with the class of 1947 at Webbers Falls where she enjoyed playing basketball and softball. She attended Connors State College where she received an Associate Degree. On December 11, 1948 Jean married Enos Nicholson Vann. She spent her life taking care of her husband and children: Rhonda, Greg, Paula, Carla and Nicky. After seeing all five children off to college, Jean enrolled at Northeastern State University in 1980. She received her Bachelor Degree in Business Administration in 1982. After losing her husband in January 1983 and with all of her children out of the home, Jean spent her time working in a variety of positions such as DHS social work, the federal court system and Green Law Office. In 1987 Jean worked as house director for Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority at Oklahoma State University. On September 5, 1992 Jean married Dr. John Coburn in Muskogee, Oklahoma and remained by his side until his death in April of 2000. She was preceded in death by her parents; siblings, Leo Ward, Kenneth Ward, Violet Sheffield, and Margaret Ward; both husbands, Enos Vann and Dr. John Coburn; and John’s daughter, Sharon Coburn Wetz. Jean is survived by her children; Rhonda Beard and husband Ken, Greg Vann and wife Betty (Beard), Dr. Paula Dickmann and husband Lanny, Carla Lovelady and husband Roger, and Nick Vann and wife Judy (Seber); and John’s children, Bob Coburn and wife Gwen and Barbara Wright and husband Ron; grandchildren, Cassie Bachman and husband Dr. Andrew Bachman, First Lieutenant Army Ranger Vann Beard, Kyle Beard, Kyla Rechlin and husband Ken, Lance Vann, Gregory Vann and wife Ashley, Dustin Dickmann and wife Allison, Dylan Dickmann, Cameron Lovelady, Peyton Vann, and Riley Vann; five great-grandchildren; her siblings, Daisy Shelby, Billie Edwards, Wayne Ward and wife Shirley, Eddie Ward and wife Lou Ann, and Joe Ward and wife Lucy; numerous nieces, nephews, and other members of her family. Jean lived a life of service teaching Sunday School, volunteering at MRMC, staying actively involved in First Baptist Church, PTA and school activities. She was a lifetime member of the OSU Alumni Association and Five Civilized Tribes Museum. Her interests were closely tied with her children, raising a family, maintaining a home and making sure that each of her children started piano lessons at an early age because “music makes everything better!” She has been a longtime contributor to the OSU Foundation and her family remembers her going to OSU events since the 1960’s, a tradition she started with Enos and kept after she and John were married. Jean was blessed to have two different lives with the love of two different husbands—she and Enos spent their time raising and caring for a young family and working on the Vann family cattle farm. She and John spent time traveling across the United States and abroad, making two trips to the Holy Land.

Jean Vann Coburn

September 2, 1931 - October 17, 2017