Nan Jean

Zack's grandmother, Jean Wiley a.k.a. Nan Jean, passed away this week. It has been very hard to say goodbye to such a wonderful person.

I was fortunate enough to marry into the Wiley family. I was even more blessed because Nan Jean treated me, very early on, as her own grandchild. And I thought of her as my own grandmother. She never let much time go by without telling me how much she prayed for her sweet Zack to find a Christian spouse and that I was the answer to her prayer.

She was the only person I knew that always had a cake or cookies in her cake stand.

She had an infectious giggle that given the right circumstance would get a little out of control. It was Nan Jean’s daily example that I will miss most.

She had an incredible relationship with God. Every action she took and every word she spoke reflected that relationship. I never heard a harsh word come out of her mouth or saw her become angry…and if she ever became frustrated, it was with love and consideration that she conveyed her feelings.

I learned so much from how she lived. I am especially grateful for her relationship with Papa Wiley. It’s because of how Nan Jean and Papa Wiley loved each other that Zack and I understand how God intended marriage to be. They were married 53 years and were the best of friends. I am certain they are together now and for that, I am so happy because I know how much Nan Jean missed Papa Wiley.

Nan Jean, I love you, I will miss you, and I promise to be the wife for Zack that you prayed for, I will strive to be a mother like you, and I only pray I can leave behind a legacy like you have left for us.