Jean Cleaver

Whether singing through the hallways of her retirement community, caring for patients as a nurse, or raising her family, Jean Cleaver made everyone feel more loved and hopeful. Sylvia Mary Jean was welcomed into the world by her parents Ted and Meta Scholz and her older brother Jack on August 23, 1933, in Hemingford, Nebraska. The family soon moved to Chadron, where her father was the town dentist. As a little girl, Jean and her best friend Gretchen played doctor and nurse with their dolls. They both realized their dreams as Gretchen grew up to be a doctor and Jean became a nurse. While studying for her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at University of Nebraska, Jean was introduced by her brother to a fellow medical student, Ed Cleaver. After a lengthy courtship while finishing their education, Ed and Jean married and began life together in Omaha. Over the next seven years, they would welcome five children. In addition to being a devoted wife and mother, Jean continued her nursing career, focusing initially on medical intensive care. A few years later, she switched to school nursing so her hours would align with her school-age children. Always seeking to learn and grow in her profession, Jean earned a Master of Science in Nursing while managing a busy household, several out-of-state moves, and care for aging parents. A highlight of her career was serving as a head nurse at City of Faith Medical Center in Tulsa. Later in her career, she turned her focus to adolescent psychiatric nursing at Laureate in Tulsa until she was 78 years old. Jean was about much more than her work. She loved all kinds of creative pursuits including sewing, drawing, painting, crafting, poetry, singing, and dancing. In their retirement, Jean and Ed enjoyed going ballroom dancing as often as four times per week. Jean's father taught her to love the outdoors, and she found the family's cabin in the Black Hills of South Dakota to be a wonderful summer retreat throughout her life. On the long drive to South Dakota, she encouraged her young children to sing together. This kept them from bickering in the car! The Cleaver Quintet soon began performing for churches and civic groups. Along the way, Jean was incredibly supportive of her children's creativity, arranging music and art lessons in their home. Jean will be remembered and cherished for her optimism, gratitude, kindness, compassion, and love for everyone. Jean is preceded in death by her parents (Ted and Meta), brother (Jack), husband (Ed), and daughter (Mary Jo Toso). She is survived by her four remaining children, Lori (Martin) Broermann, Janet Rhodes, Victor (Damia) Cleaver, and Ed (Colleen) Cleaver along with 13 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren. A celebration of Jean's life will be held on Sunday, February 2 at 1:00 pm in the Stovall Theater at University Village Retirement Center in Tulsa followed by burial at Memorial Park Cemetary on Monday, February 3 at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to Gideons International, a non-profit organization that distributes bibles to students, hotels, hospitals, prisons, and more. Jean volunteered with Gideons for over 50 years. Please click on THIS LINK to make a memorial donation in Jean's Honor to Gideons.

Jean Cleaver

August 23, 1933 - January 22, 2025