Jean Maxine Bryant

Jean Maxine Bryant went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, July 3, 2022. She passed away at home in Visalia, California.

Jean was born on January 8, 1926 to Elma and Charles Shearer of Marion, Ohio.

She graduated from Harding High School and went on to attend Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois.

During her college years at Olivet, Jean met Elvin Kenneth “EK” Bryant of Council Bluffs, Iowa. Ken was studying for the ministry. They married on November 20, 1947 in Marion prior to starting their first pastorate in Spencer, South Dakota.

They pastored nearly 60 years in the Nazarene denomination, serving churches in Iowa, South Dakota, Washington and California.

They welcomed a daughter, Deborah Bryant Kaltoft of Visalia, CA in 1952 and a son Steve Bryant of Clovis, CA in 1956.

Jean was preceded in death by her husband Ken, her parents, Elma and Charles Shearer, four sisters, Helen Shearer, Carol St. John, Betty Forsyth Rice, Bernice Copeland, and grandson Sam Bryant.

Jean is survived by her daughter Deborah Kaltoft, grandson Christian Kaltoft, great-grandson Ethan Kaltoft, her son Steve Bryant (wife Shawna), granddaughter Sarah Parsons (husband Ryan), three great granddaughters Harley, Faelynn, Margot, and grandson Scott Bryant (wife Kaitlyn).

Jean loved being Ken’s partner in ministry. They were known as an incredible team. She lived her life, serving the Lord as wife, mother, sister, friend, choir director, and pastor’s wife to hundreds of wonderful people in their various congregations.

She was known as a woman of deep faith, a prayer warrior, an encourager and mentor to those that knew and loved her. One of her greatest gifts was

entertaining family, friends, other ministers, and missionaries from around the world.

A highlight of her life with Ken was traveling to the Holy Lands and visiting 17 other countries.

Jean left her family and friends a lifetime of wonderful memories, endless “faith” stories she shared of how God answered each and every prayer she prayed.

In her soft spoken voice, you often would hear Jean say, “Relax, God is in control” a favorite encouragement to many over the years.

  Services were held in Vancouver, Washington.

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