Jean Belue (nee Courtney), 76, an avid traveler and longtime prominent member of the Niceville, Florida community, died on Oct. 15, 2016 in Silverhill, Alabama.
Jean and her late husband, Dr. Gerald E. Belue, spent much of their lives in Niceville, where he established a medical practice in 1969.
An accomplished bridge player, Jean had an adventurous spirit and loved nothing more than embarking on road trips, stopping to explore whatever might catch her eye. She was a lifelong active volunteer for church and medical causes.
Jean was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi on March 25, 1940 to Benjamin F. and Catherine Minter Courtney. She met her future husband while they were teenagers, and they became high school sweethearts at Hattiesburg High, where they graduated in 1958.
Jean earned a teaching degree at Judson College in Marion, Alabama and began teaching while Gerald attended Medical School at Ole Miss.
After several moves, they made a permanent home in Niceville, where they raised a son, Gerald Jr. (Jerry), and became active advocates for the construction and expansion of Twin Cities Hospital there. They were members of Niceville United Methodist Church and Rocky Bayou Country Club.
Jean relocated to Spanish Fort, Alabama after the death of her husband in 2011. She spent the last years of her life as a committed member of Spanish Fort United Methodist Church and a volunteer at the nonprofit Prodisee Pantry in that city.
In addition to her son, Jerry, of Fort Walton Beach; she is survived by her sister, Marta Courtney, of Silverhill, Alabama; nieces, Anne Courtney, Leah B. Kittrell (Glen), Kate B. Walker; and nephew, Paul Fillingim.
A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 22 at Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Home, 19698 Greeno Road, Fairhope, Alabama.
Family visitation will begin at 10 a.m., followed by the service at 11 a.m.
A reception will be held afterward at Tamara's Downtown, 104 N. Section Street, Fairhope, Alabama. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Jean's life.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Prodisee Pantry Inc., 9315 Spanish Fort Blvd., Spanish Fort, AL 36527.
Condolences may be sent in care of Anne Courtney, P.O. Box 952, Silverhill, AL 36576.
Arrangements by Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Homes & Crematory Inc., 19698 Greeno Road, Fairhope, AL 36532, 251-990-7775, www.wolfefuneralhomes.com.
