Jean Kathryn Serne died Monday November 26, 2007. Jean, the daughter of Joseph Bohland and Irish immigrant Sarah Kearney was born in Dover Village Westlake, Ohio on May 17, 1924. Her younger years were a challenge of family hardship, but Jean was surrounded by four loving sisters that provided comfort. She graduated from Bay Village High School in 1942. After high school she worked as a secretary until May 1945 when Jean took a train to Douglas, AZ to marry her high-school sweetheart, Roger Williams Serne, an Army Air Corps pilot. After Roger?s release from the Army they returned to Bay Village, Ohio with no place to live, but in love and determined to start a wonderful life together. Their marriage of 54 years included raising three children Roger Jeffrey, James Clinton, and Susan Gail. In the early 1950s Roger and Jean bought 5 acres in North Olmsted, Ohio, built a house from scratch, and raised their family on the mini-farm with dozens of chickens, fruit trees, a berry patch, and vegetable garden. Jean selflessly devoted her life to her family and creation of a happy home. As the children grew and explored the nearby forest and ponds many creatures were added to the household. Jean was a traditional stay at home Mom leading Scout troops, chauffeuring the three kids to school musical and sporting events, and managing the harvest and processing of the garden produce. When her husband Roger was working oil refinery construction jobs out of town, Jean was both mother and father for the three kids. Jean became an expert at raising children and animals and always had a soft spot for stray animals that continued in her later years in Badger Canyon, Kennewick WA. In 1964 Jean and two younger children moved to Fullerton, California to join her husband when he worked for Beckman Instruments. Jean and Roger were the first in their respective families to venture west from Ohio to experience the orange groves, swimming pools in every back yard, sunny warm winters shorts and T-shirts at Christmas!, explorations of Death Valley, new pets tortoises, new fruit trees orange, grapefruit, lemons, Knott?s Berry Farm, Disneyland, week-end outings to the beaches, swap meets and flea markets. In 1969, Jean and Roger returned to Ohio and settled in Lima where Roger worked on construction of oil refinery and chemical plants. With the three kids remaining out west to finish college, Jean went back to work at the Lima Refinery for several years; then she and Roger retired in 1983. They retired to Leesburg, Florida for several years and then in 1998 began splitting the years between Florida and Kennewick, WA where R. Jeff and Susan reside. They became #1 fans of the grandkids? sporting, musical, and theatrical events. Her cheers of encouragement will be heard by her 6 grandchildren: Jennifer Noelle Serne, Ryan Jeffrey Serne, Robin Kimberly Serne, Bonnie Kathryn Walter, Erinn Holly Walter, and Lucas Neal Walter for years to come. In 1999 Roger died and in 2001 Jean settled permanently in Kennewick. One of Jean?s passions was travel with her family including car trips across the country, journeys to Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, Europe, and French Polynesia. Jean was especially proud of her Irish heritage and was thrilled to have travelled to the Emerald Isle researching for her ancestry and heritage. Jean was preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Sarah; sisters Irene, Janice, and Alice; and her husband Roger W. Serne. She is survived by her sister Ruth Lee in Bay Village, Ohio; her children R. Jeffrey Serne, James C. Serne Raleigh, NC and Susan G. Walter, daughters-in-law Nancy and Judy Serne, son-in-law Bernie Walter, the aforementioned six grandchildren, and numerous nephews and nieces. Jean will be fondly remembered by her children, grandchildren, relatives, and friends as a generous, caring, fun loving, creative person topped off with a wee bit of Irish spunk. Her favorite bible verse ?He shall give His angels charge over you Psalm 91? comforts us all. A Memorial Service will be held at Mueller?s Tri-Cities Funeral Home, 1401 S. Union St. in Kennewick on Saturday December 8th at 1:00 pm. Jean would have appreciated donations in lieu of flowers be sent to your local Humane Society or Hospice House.