Ms. Jean Laura Wilson McCloskey, 93, of Fayetteville, died Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2015.

She was born June 23, 1922, at her grandmother's home in Germantown, Philadelphia. She had an idyllic childhood in what was, at the time, rural New Jersey. She often shared her favorite memory as a child: riding with her father delivering ice and coal for their family business, J.C. Wilson Ice and Coal.

As a young woman, she was among the first flight attendants and worked for Pan-Am airlines. Being a trailblazer of her time, she even played bass in a band. After a chance meeting at Fort Bragg, she married her husband of 61 years and her love, Jack. For the remainder of his Army career, they traveled the world with their son, Ronald. They lived in Japan, Washington state, Utah and North Carolina.

After settling into "retirement" in Fayetteville, she and her husband had several successful businesses, including a real estate company and The Norge laundromat and dry cleaners. Jean ran day-to-day operations and did all the accounting for each. She was an American Red Cross volunteer for more than 30 years.

Jean was extremely patriotic and loved America. She was a gifted seamstress who hand-hooked more than a dozen rugs and made knitwear. Her knitwear was sold in stores in Fayetteville and Southern Pines during the 1960s and 70s. She was a founding member of the Fayetteville TROA, which later became MOAA.

She was a self-taught bridge player and played at The Officers Club and several churches. She loved The Braves. She hated cooking. She loved a cocktail hour. She loved eating rich food and she had perfect cholesterol. Jean was dutiful and faithful to her family and those she loved.

She was a straight-ticket Republican voter all her life. During the election of 2012, a Democrat and family friend drove her to vote; this proved, she said, that Republicans and Democrats can get along. She had a great sense of humor.

For the last 40 years, she lived the good life at her beloved home in Rayconda, indulging in all her favorite things. Anyone who knew her knew that, of all her favorite things, her family was her most favorite.

She is survived by her son, Ronald; daughter-in-law, Connie; grandchildren, Katherine and Michael; grandson-in-law, Paul; great-grandchildren, Christian, Nathan, Caden, Benjamin and Lincoln; her dog, Kiki, which brought her great joy; and several nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews. She had many friend and neighbors. She was loved and she will be missed.