Jean Laura Hermes

Jean Laura Hermes passed away on July 1, 2022 at the age of 96 in Corvallis OR. She was born in Chicago, IL on January 11, 1926, along with her twin sister Betty, to Edward and Anna Gerken. Jean graduated from Senn High School, Chicago, IL in 1944 as an accomplished Majorette and violinist. After high school she attended nursing school at American Hospital in Chicago. She met MSgt Jack M. Hermes, USMC, who was home on leave following his participation in the Pacific during World War II, and they married on June 29, 1946. Being the wife of a career marine (retired in 1973 as LtCol), meant they moved often, living in North Carolina, California, New York, Virginia, back to North Carolina then finally “settling” in Vista CA where they purchased the family home. During these early years of marriage, Jean’s three sons were born, John Edward Hermes, 1947 in Cherry Point, NC, Jeffrey Theodore Hermes in Schenectady, NY in 1952, and James Curtis Hermes in Camp Lejeune, NC in 1954. After “settling” in Vista, CA in 1957 and purchasing the family home in 1958 orders came and the family moved to Seoul, South Korea in 1961 where Jack was a military advisor. There Jean became involved with a Korean orphanage that cared for Amer-Asian children. She brought several into her home to care for them until they were adopted by US service men and their families and eventually brought to the US. Following the family’s return to the US in 1963, it was off to Quantico, VA, finally returning to Vista in 1967, while Jack was in Vietnam. Jean was a very talented artist. She was able to work in painting, sculpture, macramé, and stained glass. While in Korea, she and Jack learned to play golf which they continued through the rest of their lives, with Jean winning the San Luis Rey, Bonsall, CA Women’s Club championship several times in the 70s and 80s. Jean continued to play golf regularly into her late 80’s. Jean was brought up in the church, spent time in several denominations finally settling on a non-denominational evangelical church. When her children were young, Jean taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. In her later years, she became involved in prison ministry, writing encouraging cards and letters to inmates at local jails. She once said that her job as a mother was successful when her three sons became born-again Christians. After Jack passed away in 1996, Jean and her twin sister Betty, purchased a mobile home together in Fallbrook, CA. Finally, in 2017 at the age of 91, Jean moved to Corvallis, OR to be near family in her twilight years. Jean was preceding in death by her husband of 49 years Jack Hermes, her brother Edward Gerken of Norwalk, CT; her sisters, Lorraine Williams of Burbank, CA, and Betty Brown of Fallbrook, CA; and her sons, John Hermes (Gisela Ward) of Escondido, CA, and Jeffrey Hermes (Pamela) of Kapolei, HI. She is survived by her son James (Peggy) of Philomath, OR; five grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. A memorial service is scheduled for Sunday, September 25, at 2pm, at First Baptist Church, Philomath, OR.

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Jean Laura Hermes

January 11, 1926 - July 1, 2022