Jarrett, Eva 1930-2025 St. Joseph, Mo.

On Oct. 25, 1930, in their farm home near Cosby, Missouri, the late Edward and Edna (Bunse) Heinz were blessed with the birth of Maurine. She grew up on her family farm and learned the value of hard work. She shared her home with her late younger brother, Mervyn Heinz.

For eight years she walked for over a mile to reach the Prairie Valley one room country schoolhouse, helped work on the farm, attended church, took piano lessons and began giving piano lessons. She graduated from Savannah High School in 1948 where she played clarinet with the marching band.

For three years after her high school graduation, she began sewing then advanced to the office at Ely Walker, in St. Joseph. In 1952 she married James (Jim) Jarrett after he came home from serving in the Marines during the Korean War. Soon after they were married, they purchased a farm east of Cosby and spent the next 63 years together on the farm they both loved before her husband passed away while she held his hand. They had two boys, James Jr. and Gary. Some of her best memories were raising her two boys on this farm and sharing their experiences as they grew up. She had the rare ability to never have anger while disciplining her boys. Her love and caring ways for her family continued with her extended family that grew over the years. She and her husband enjoyed many life experiences during their marriage. They traveled to nearly every state in the union to include countries overseas, camping with family and they both belonged to many clubs.

While growing up she attended the EUB (Evangelical United Brethren) church which is now called the Zion United Methodist Church. In 1955 she began attending the Clarksdale, Missouri, Methodist Church and served as the organist and pianist until it closed in 2023. After it’s closing, she attended Bethel Baptist church near Cosby where she played piano specials and enjoyed sermons for the remainder of her life. Her favorite hymn is “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” and her favorite Bible scripture is Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.

Her first job, which continued for 22 years, was to teach piano to many local youths who appreciated her kind and patient teaching skills. Beginning in 1972 she retired from piano teaching and began work at what is now Boehringer Ingelheim, in St. Joseph. Before retiring there after 21 years of employment as a research technician, she assisted in the discovery of several animal vaccines. She was a charter member of the local community Friendly Twenty Club for over 50 years. Maurine had a rich and varied life with her many interests. Besides playing the piano and spending time with her family, she read, collected and documented history, grew flowers, collected bud vases, worked jigsaw puzzles, enjoyed nature and spent many nights star gazing. She said that after she died, we were to remember her when you see a falling star.

Music was always an important part of Maurine’s life. She loved all genres of music. She played either the piano or organ at churches, numerous weddings, The Abundant Acres (Shady Lawn) nursing home and many funerals for over 75 years. She accompanied many singers to include the quartet her husband was a part of. While a patient at Mosaic Hospital at the age of 92 she played a concert at the request of the hospital CEO. She also was a singer with the group Sweet Adelines for five years during the 1960s.

Maurine is survived by her son, James Jr. (Suzan), of Cosby, Gary (Jill), of Kansas City; grandchildren, Nick (Lindsey), of Kansas City, Cora, of Kansas City, Nathaniel (Alyssa), of Cosby; step- granddaughters, Camilla Hendren and Jordan Davis both of Kansas City; four great-grandchildren, Troy, Dayton and Jase, of Cosby, Eva, of Kansas City; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Thanks to Freudenthal Hospice and Abundant Acres (Shady Lawn) nursing home for their good care.

Maurine was a beautiful person on the inside and out. She was a great listener, generous and always put others’ needs ahead of herself. Her smile and loving personality warmed the hearts of all her many friends and family.

Before Maurine passed peacefully away surrounded by her family on Aug. 25, 2025, she asked in her obituary that we let her many friends and family know that “she loved them all very much.”

Private Family Services will be held at a later date.

Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com. As published in the St. Joseph News-Press.