Jeannie Marie Musick

Jeannie Marie Musick

Nov. 27, 1952 – Sept. 6, 2022

Jeannie Marie Musick completed her earthly journey on Sept. 6, 2022, in Billings at the age of 69 from complications following surgery.

She was born in Las Vegas, Nevada, at Nellis AFB on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27, 1952, to Jack Frank and Ethel Minerva (Zion) Musick. Her mother assumed her stomach pains were a bit of Thanksgiving dinner indigestion, but instead she gave birth to Jeannie, and people have been giving thanks for her ever since.

Jeannie was a daughter, sister, friend, educator and dreamer extraordinaire. She saw the beauty in everything around her and the goodness in everyone she met. She was non-judgmental and accepting of others and was a master of forgiveness and turning the other cheek.

She was passionate about education and loved all knowledge, but what she loved most was sharing knowledge with anyone who wanted to learn. She was a brilliant teacher, who could successfully teach any subject and make it seem fascinating. She embraced her students with her whole being and reveled in each of their accomplishments.

Jeannie was selfless in her genuine happiness for other people’s successes. Though she never married or had children of her own, she viewed everyone she met as family and embraced all.

Jeannie held a Bachelor of Arts in drama from Brigham Young University, a Master of Arts in directing from San Diego State University and an ABD Doctorate of Philosophy in theatrical directing from Louisiana State University. In addition, she was a talented author, playwright and director with the ability to weave detailed and engaging stories that drew the reader or viewer in.

Jeannie loved the written word. She was an author of imaginative stories and was working toward publication through the end of her life, despite the challenges posed by her health issues.

In addition to her writing, Jeannie, with her sister Shelley, gifted her adopted hometown of Cowley with what will be known as the Jeannie Marie Musick and Donald Leroy McCracken Jr. Memorial Library so that her friends and neighbors will have a refuge with stories and knowledge for them to enjoy. Jeannie especially loved the Children Reading Hour she did on Fridays. She would dress in costume and read stories with the children, and she developed a great love for all of them, and they loved her.

She served in the United States Air Force from 1971 to 1975, serving at Goodfellow AFB in San Angelo, Texas, and RAF Chicksands in Bedford, England.

Despite making rank very quickly in what was a promising career, she left the service to move back to the states to help care for her dying father and lend moral support to her mother and younger sister.

She was devoted to her mother and spent years living with her and helping her. Following her mother’s death Jeannie chose to move to Lovell and was a constant companion, friend and source of strength for her sister Shelley McCracken following the death of her husband, Don, in 2015.

Jeannie’s greatest accomplishment in this life was her love of the Savior and love of service to anyone who needed it. She served in the Billings Montana Temple for six years, and it was one of her greatest loves. Everyone in the temple loved her and the spirituality that she brought to her service.

She had a childlike zeal for everything she saw and did and loved to travel and have adventures. She had many adventures with her sisters as they visited Dhaka, Bangladesh; Kathmandu, Nepal; Kolkatta, India; and London, England.

She served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Rome, Italy, mission and stayed fluent in Italian the rest of her life.

Jeannie is survived by her brother, Richard Lee (Judi Cross) Musick of Depoe Bay, Oregon; sisters Shelley Ann Musick McCracken of Cowley and Leni Sue Musick (Derek Edward) Hester of Gaborone, Botswana, Africa; nephews Kenneth (Gwen Cook-Jaussaud) Musick, Chad (Kisstopher Stewart) Musick, Joseph Musick, James Musick, Josh (Sadie Clarine) McCracken, Chi Hester and Colt (Michelle Filkins) Hester; nieces Robyn Musick, Donna McCracken (LeRoy) Chavez, Linda McCracken, Lori McCracken, and Samantha Hester (Mark) Kneiser, who all loved her; numerous great-nephews and great-nieces; and two special students whom she loved as if they were her own children, Christina Martinez and Dan Jones.

She was preceded in death by her father, Jack Frank Musick, mother Ethel (Zion) Musick, sister-in -law Lisa (Bunt) Musick, brother-in-law Donald LeRoy McCracken Jr., grandparents Arthur and Pearl (Chadwick) Musick and Peter and Sophronia (Wilkinson) Zion and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

A funeral service will be held at the Cowley LDS Chapel on Sept. 17 at 10 a.m. There will be no viewing before the service. Graveside service will be at the Cowley Cemetery.

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