Jean Nanney was raised in Anadarko, Oklahoma, born to the Rev John Richard Kelly and Pauline Campbell Kelly. She graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University with a bachelor’s degree. She then earned a master’s degree in Music from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. 

  Jean Nanney lived a musical life, having first played piano for her father’s church services when she was four years old. She was playing piano for the Windsor Singers up until her death. She was a music teacher in the Urbana School System for decades, with choirs and classes at Urbana High School, Leal Elementary School, and Urbana Junior High School over the years. 

  Jean was an ordained minister and occupied the pulpit at The Windsor of Savoy for years before she ultimately lived there herself. She ministered to patients at Carle Hospital where she comforted many and was even called upon to give last rights on occasion. As a high school student, Jean had a passion for helping others and spent her summer as a missionary in South Texas. She was flabbergasted one day to receive an award from Former President George H.W. Bush awarding her as one of our nation’s Thousand Points of Light.

  Jean is survived by her son Douglas P. Nanney, an Attorney in Knoxville, Tennessee; her daughter Ruth Elizabeth Beshears, an Attorney in Columbus, Ohio; granddaughter Josette Celeste, an actress, poet and insurance adjuster in Knoxville, Tennessee; grandson Jonathan Beshears, an Attorney in Columbus, Ohio; grandson Brian Douglas Beshears, a journalist in Columbus, Ohio; and by great grandchildren.

A Celebration of life service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 10, 2025 at the Chapel of Saint John the Divine, 1011 S Wright Street#6286, Champaign, IL 61820. The Reverend Sean Ferrell will be officiating. Condolences may be made at www.renner-wikoffchapel.com