Obituary for Iva "Jean" Irwin
Iva “Jean” Irwin passed away peacefully on January 29, 2023, in Amarillo, Texas after a long and blessed life. A private family burial will be at Memory Gardens on Monday, February 13, 2023. Her casket will make one final trip past Irwin Greenhouses on her way to interment. Her Celebration of Life will be held at 2 pm the same day at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Amarillo, Texas.
Jean was born on February 16, 1928, in Briggsdale, Ohio to Charles “CJ” and Violet Winters. Jean married her high school sweetheart and the love of her life, James T. “Jim” Irwin on November 26, 1947.
They moved to Guthrie, Oklahoma in 1948, where Jim worked for Furrow and Company Greenhouses and Jean worked at raising their family. In 1963, they moved to Canyon, Texas and established Irwin Greenhouses, Inc. They worked side by side establishing the greenhouse and growing it into a successful business known for its quality of product and customer service. Jean was known for her ability to sell plants, to work fairly with her customers and always maintain good business sense. Jim was the backbone of the quality and innovation, but Jean was the backbone of sales and customer service. Jean loved her work and her customers; she did not retire full-time until 2013 at the age of 85. Their legacy and life work continues, as Irwin Greenhouses, Inc. will celebrate its 60th anniversary this year.
Even though Jean worked full-time, she continued to take superb care of her home and family, even providing a loving home for several foster children. Her home was always pristine and most every evening there was a home cooked meal on the table, including dessert.
After her children were grown, Jean focused her extra time on the community. She served on the session of the Presbyterian Church of Canyon, served on multiple boards, including board member and President of the Amarillo Children’s Home, and board member of Opportunity School. She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi, the Texas State Florist Association, the WesTexas New Mexico Florist Association, and the Westminster Presbyterian Church. One of her proudest accomplishments was that she was the first woman to be elected to the Canyon ISD School Board in 1976. She was not met with the warmest welcome at first, but slowly won over and gained the respect of her male board members with her hard work, dedication, and sharp mind, eventually becoming the board president.
In her later years Jean enjoyed being Grandma Jean to her nine grandchildren and Grand Lady to her 12 great grandchildren. Jean earned the love and respect of almost everyone she dealt with. Even in her final year, all her caregivers at Abundantly Blessed loved “Sweet Miss Jean”. She will be remembered for her high heels, sharp wardrobe, excellent hostess skills, love of shopping and of course, her love of flowers.
Jean was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 59 years, Jim Irwin, sister Sally Raymond and husband Ben, brother Jack Winters and wife Peggy, brothers-in-law Mannie Phelps and Les Hollingshead, son-in-law Doug Acton, granddaughter Robin Acton, and great-grandson Rhett Irwin. She is survived by her son Lawrence Irwin and wife Mary, daughter Lou Anne and husband Robert Causey all of Amarillo, daughter Linda Acton of Gilbert, Arizona; her sisters Mary Phelps and Barbara Hollingshead both of Grove City, Ohio. Beloved grandchildren continuing her legacy are Meghan Irwin-Cohn and husband Zac of Dallas, Jarratt Irwin and wife Lindsay, Tanner Irwin and wife Kalea, Kelsey Rome and husband Chase, and Lee Causey all of Amarillo, Heather Causey of New Orleans, Louisiana, Dr. Jamey Little and husband Cody of Oklahoma City, Rob Acton of Houston and Skyla Beagle and husband John of Gilbert, Arizona. She is also survived by 12 great grandchildren Ella, Will, Nolan, Adelyn, Maisie, Flint, Scarlett, Collins, Canton, Oceane, Colten, and Jace: as well as many nieces, nephews, great nieces/nephews, and countless long-time friends.
If you wish to honor her community spirit the family suggests memorials to Opportunity School, Westminster Presbyterian Church, the WTNM Florist Association scholarship fund or your favorite charity. The family would like to thank her caregivers from Ruby Slippers, Abundantly Blessed and BSA Hospice of the Southwest who made her final year of life full of love and caring.
The service will be livestreamed here just prior to service time or you can go to Westminster Presbyterian Church YouTube page for livestreaming.
Jean was born on February 16, 1928, in Briggsdale, Ohio to Charles “CJ” and Violet Winters. Jean married her high school sweetheart and the love of her life, James T. “Jim” Irwin on November 26, 1947.
They moved to Guthrie, Oklahoma in 1948, where Jim worked for Furrow and Company Greenhouses and Jean worked at raising their family. In 1963, they moved to Canyon, Texas and established Irwin Greenhouses, Inc. They worked side by side establishing the greenhouse and growing it into a successful business known for its quality of product and customer service. Jean was known for her ability to sell plants, to work fairly with her customers and always maintain good business sense. Jim was the backbone of the quality and innovation, but Jean was the backbone of sales and customer service. Jean loved her work and her customers; she did not retire full-time until 2013 at the age of 85. Their legacy and life work continues, as Irwin Greenhouses, Inc. will celebrate its 60th anniversary this year.
Even though Jean worked full-time, she continued to take superb care of her home and family, even providing a loving home for several foster children. Her home was always pristine and most every evening there was a home cooked meal on the table, including dessert.
After her children were grown, Jean focused her extra time on the community. She served on the session of the Presbyterian Church of Canyon, served on multiple boards, including board member and President of the Amarillo Children’s Home, and board member of Opportunity School. She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi, the Texas State Florist Association, the WesTexas New Mexico Florist Association, and the Westminster Presbyterian Church. One of her proudest accomplishments was that she was the first woman to be elected to the Canyon ISD School Board in 1976. She was not met with the warmest welcome at first, but slowly won over and gained the respect of her male board members with her hard work, dedication, and sharp mind, eventually becoming the board president.
In her later years Jean enjoyed being Grandma Jean to her nine grandchildren and Grand Lady to her 12 great grandchildren. Jean earned the love and respect of almost everyone she dealt with. Even in her final year, all her caregivers at Abundantly Blessed loved “Sweet Miss Jean”. She will be remembered for her high heels, sharp wardrobe, excellent hostess skills, love of shopping and of course, her love of flowers.
Jean was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 59 years, Jim Irwin, sister Sally Raymond and husband Ben, brother Jack Winters and wife Peggy, brothers-in-law Mannie Phelps and Les Hollingshead, son-in-law Doug Acton, granddaughter Robin Acton, and great-grandson Rhett Irwin. She is survived by her son Lawrence Irwin and wife Mary, daughter Lou Anne and husband Robert Causey all of Amarillo, daughter Linda Acton of Gilbert, Arizona; her sisters Mary Phelps and Barbara Hollingshead both of Grove City, Ohio. Beloved grandchildren continuing her legacy are Meghan Irwin-Cohn and husband Zac of Dallas, Jarratt Irwin and wife Lindsay, Tanner Irwin and wife Kalea, Kelsey Rome and husband Chase, and Lee Causey all of Amarillo, Heather Causey of New Orleans, Louisiana, Dr. Jamey Little and husband Cody of Oklahoma City, Rob Acton of Houston and Skyla Beagle and husband John of Gilbert, Arizona. She is also survived by 12 great grandchildren Ella, Will, Nolan, Adelyn, Maisie, Flint, Scarlett, Collins, Canton, Oceane, Colten, and Jace: as well as many nieces, nephews, great nieces/nephews, and countless long-time friends.
If you wish to honor her community spirit the family suggests memorials to Opportunity School, Westminster Presbyterian Church, the WTNM Florist Association scholarship fund or your favorite charity. The family would like to thank her caregivers from Ruby Slippers, Abundantly Blessed and BSA Hospice of the Southwest who made her final year of life full of love and caring.
The service will be livestreamed here just prior to service time or you can go to Westminster Presbyterian Church YouTube page for livestreaming.