Mrs. Dorothy ImaJean Richardson Reynolds Rhodes, 91, died Jan. 12, 2024, at Mansfield Methodist Hospital.

Visitation is at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, at New York Avenue Church of Christ, 5371 New York Avenue, in Arlington. Service follows at 11 a.m. at the church. The burial will be at 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2, in Kilgore City Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Boren-Conner Funeral Home in Bullard. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Quilt of Valor Foundation, www.qovf.org; North Texas Nurses Honor Guard, https://ntxnursehonorguard.com

Jean was born May 9, 1932, in Achille, Okla., to Frank and Thelma Taylor Richardson. Her father worked in the oil fields, and the family moved around during Jean’s youth, settling in the Kilgore, Texas area.

Jean met Rayford Reynolds at Eastview Church of Christ in Kilgore. They married on June 9, 1948, when Jean had just turned 16. Rayford and Jean moved to West Texas, and she graduated from Stanton High School in 1950. Ray and Jean moved back to East Texas, where their son, Jimmy, was born October 11, 1950.

The following June, Rayford was killed in an oilfield accident in Jacksonville. Jean’s journals show that she enrolled in an intensive business course at Kilgore Junior College in 1951. She and sister Berle attended KJC together.

Jean met and became friends with another student at KJC, Orvis Ray Rhodes. Orvis wanted to date, but Jean kept to “group dating” with other students they knew. Orvis worked in Montana through the summer, returning to Kilgore, where he began dating Jean. Orvis and Jean married Sept. 18, 1953, at Eastview Church of Christ in Kilgore.

Orvis and Jean had three more children: Karen, born 1955; Robbie, born 1963; and David, born 1965. The family remained in Kilgore until Orvis was diagnosed with chronic kidney failure in 1967.  The family then moved to Galveston, where Orvis was accepted for treatment to the University of Texas Medical Branch’s Chronic Home Dialysis Center.

To support her family, Jean enrolled in the LVN program at what is now Mainland Center Hospital in Texas City. She graduated with honors in September 1969 and earned her LVN in November 1969. She was selected Outstanding Student of her Vocational Nursing class.

She began working at Mainland Center Hospital, first in the OB/GYN ward. She later moved to a position in private practice as office nurse and surgical assistant with Dr. Amedeo Magliolo.

Later, she worked as an audit/admitting nurse from 1982-1993 at Mainland Center Hospital. She moved to Grand Prairie in 1993 and began work as a correctional health nurse at John Peter Smith Hospital, Belknap Unit, in Fort Worth. She continued there until retiring in 1997.

During her nursing career, she was active in the Texas League of Vocational Nurses, serving as state secretary. She was a charter member of the Galveston County Component Society of the Texas League of Vocational Nurses, serving as its first president. She also served as secretary for several terms. In addition, she was named Nurse of the Year by the GCCS.

After retiring, sister Berle brought her into the Turnpike Ladies Sewing Group, where she learned to love quilting. She was always a seamstress but embraced quilting. She was still planning quilt projects the day she passed.

She was very proud to be part of Quilts of Valor. She made and presented several quilts that honored veterans.

She was born into the Church of Christ and never wavered. A devoted Christian, she taught Bible classes and was an avid student of the Bible. Her faith was passed on to her children and grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her two husbands, and one sister, Lanelle Wiggins.

Survivors include three sons, James Reynolds and wife, Tomy of Kilgore; Robbie Rhodes and wife, Kristi of Chattanooga, Tenn.; and David Rhodes and wife, Lori of Winnsboro; one daughter, Karen McPherson and husband, Ed of Grand Prairie; grandchildren, Tricia Reynolds Reid and husband, Benjamin; Tori Reynolds Archer and husband, Bobby; Tara Reynolds Romberger and husband, Todd; Traci Reynolds; Kimberly McPherson High and fiancé Daniel Carey; Michael McPherson and wife, Charity; Tyler Rhodes; Daniel Rhodes; Ashley Rhodes Chavez and husband, Colin; and Victoria Rhodes; and 11 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson; one sister, Berle Smith of Grand Prairie; one brother, James Richardson of Slidell, La.; and numerous nieces, nephews, and bonus children (Julia Phillips, Carolyn Wise Woods, Linda Curry); and a host of friends.