Nina Jean Devereaux
January 30, 1934 – February 8, 2022
Nina Jean Devereaux, lovingly known as "Jean," passed away on Feb. 8, 2022, at Lifepath Hospice, Ruskin, Fla. She was born Jan. 30, 1934, to Howard Isom Baldwin and Virgie Elizabeth Baldwin (Mitchem) in Capels, W.Va. Jean is preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Howard Baldwin Jr.; sister, Patricia Ann McKinney; and her husband, Marion "Ken" Devereaux.
Jean is survived by her son, Howard A. "Butch" "Alex" Christian (Debbie); daughter, Terrie L. Smith (Danny); granddaughters, Heather Johnson (Trevor) and Cynthia Clubb (Mike); and six great-grandchildren; plus nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Jean owned and operated Jean’s Drive-In Restaurant in Bradshaw, West Virginia, and another called 460 Drive-In Restaurant in Bluefield, Virginia. At about 5' tall, she kept the truckers in line and made friends with them and everyone she met. Jean left West Virginia and moved to Michigan, where she met her husband, Ken, at his mother's donut shoppe. They were married in 1969. Jean was a floor manager at a car part manufacturer in Detroit, Michigan, from where she retired. Jean and Ken snowmobiled, traveled and shared an adventurous life together. They retired to Florida in 1986 and found good friends and neighbors at Chulavista Landings in Ruskin, Fla., in 1988. From there, they continued traveling, ballroom dancing, line dancing and more. Ken nicknamed Jean "Speedy" because she never sat still. Jean and Ken moved to Cypress Creek Assisted Living and Memory Care Facility in 2014. After 45 years together, Ken passed away, but Jean continued to enjoy life doing all the facility activities and going on day trips wherever the bus would take them.
Being loved by her family and friends, we will miss her smiling face. Memorial service for immediate family is being held at Sarasota National Cemetery for interment with her husband, who was a WWII Veteran. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Alzheimer’s Organization online at https://www.alz.org/.
Jean is survived by her son, Howard A. "Butch" "Alex" Christian (Debbie); daughter, Terrie L. Smith (Danny); granddaughters, Heather Johnson (Trevor) and Cynthia Clubb (Mike); and six great-grandchildren; plus nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Jean owned and operated Jean’s Drive-In Restaurant in Bradshaw, West Virginia, and another called 460 Drive-In Restaurant in Bluefield, Virginia. At about 5' tall, she kept the truckers in line and made friends with them and everyone she met. Jean left West Virginia and moved to Michigan, where she met her husband, Ken, at his mother's donut shoppe. They were married in 1969. Jean was a floor manager at a car part manufacturer in Detroit, Michigan, from where she retired. Jean and Ken snowmobiled, traveled and shared an adventurous life together. They retired to Florida in 1986 and found good friends and neighbors at Chulavista Landings in Ruskin, Fla., in 1988. From there, they continued traveling, ballroom dancing, line dancing and more. Ken nicknamed Jean "Speedy" because she never sat still. Jean and Ken moved to Cypress Creek Assisted Living and Memory Care Facility in 2014. After 45 years together, Ken passed away, but Jean continued to enjoy life doing all the facility activities and going on day trips wherever the bus would take them.
Being loved by her family and friends, we will miss her smiling face. Memorial service for immediate family is being held at Sarasota National Cemetery for interment with her husband, who was a WWII Veteran. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Alzheimer’s Organization online at https://www.alz.org/.