Elda Jean (Roberts) Lincoln

Elda “Jean” (Roberts) Lincoln passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, May 2, 2020, having achieved 90 years of a wonderful life well lived.  Jean was born July 15, 1929, the youngest of three daughters born to Eldon and Eula Mildred (Linebarger) Roberts in Jackson, MO.  She married Bobby Carroll Lincoln on October 9, 1950, and nurtured a wonderful relationship, full of unconditional love and devotion, for 64 years until Bobby passed away in 2014.

Jean excelled in a wide variety of careers and hobbies. She was delighted by all types of music and very musically talented, starting with piano as a young girl then playing saxophone in the Jackson High School band. She taught piano lessons and was the organist and choir director for Christ Episcopal Church in Cape Girardeau from 1961 to 1970, then organist again from 1984 to 1989.  Later, she taught herself to play the dulcimer and autoharp, even earning second place in an autoharp contest in Mountain Home, AR.  Her lifelong interest in health and nutrition began as a doctor’s assistant for Dr. Jaeger in Jackson and St. Louis.  Jean made yogurt at home before it was commercially available, and worked at the Nutrition Center health food store from 1976 to 1981.  She was also a professional hairdresser from 1966 to 1972.  Jean was extremely creative, having completed many beautiful needlework and crochet pieces, oil paintings, and artistic household projects.  She was an accomplished seamstress, making many of her own and her children’s clothes.  Jean also enjoyed the outdoors.  She loved being in the woods hunting morel mushrooms each spring, a hobby that she sometimes shared with family members.  Her beautiful gardens were immaculate and unique, with a combination of flowers, vegetables, cactus, succulents, rocks and driftwood.

Jean was lovingly devoted to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchild. She constantly thought of the wellbeing of others before herself.  She was an excellent cook, preparing nutritious meals and fun cakes for her children’s birthdays.  She liked to tell the story of wading in the neighborhood creek to catch a frog to bribe her young son to take his medicine.  This was only one example of Jean’s devotion as a mother.  

Jean had a thirst for knowledge and was very resourceful, even in the days before the internet.  She passionately pursued her interests to perfection. She was a wealth of knowledge on many topics and and was frequently consulted by family and friends for her innovative problem-solving skills.  Although very humble, Jean held strong opinions, while showing great acceptance, compassion and empathy for others.  She embraced technology and was adept at navigating her computer and iPad, always curious to learn new tools to further her pursuit of knowledge.  Most of all, she was deeply committed to nurture and care for those she loved.

She is survived by her children Carol Jean (Bob) Skowbo, Tamara Jo (Larry) Koenig and David Roberts Lincoln, grandchildren Kara Lynne (Michael) Baker, Molly Jean Lincoln, Andrew Leighton (Caitlin) Koenig, Austin Lincoln (Taylor) Koenig and great grandson James Lincoln Baker.  She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Janet Lee Roberts and Thelma Leona Besher, and daughter-in-law Trudy Lynnette Lincoln.

Special thanks go out to the outstanding caregivers that become as close as family, especially Suzie Griffith, Lisa Spies, Yvonda Modicue, Leta Swinney, Denise Ogbuka, and Debbie Nelson.

“Grandma Jean’s” family loves her and already misses her terribly, but they will forever celebrate the impact she had on their lives by sharing her memory with future generations.

A celebration of life and graveside rights at Russell Heights will be scheduled at a later date.

Instead of flowers, donations to Christ Episcopal Church in Cape Girardeau are suggested.  https://www.reddoorchurch cape.org/

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