Jean Ripley

Jean and my aunt Beryl Lenton(Ripley) were school mates and friends growing up in St Johnsbury VT. Beryl's little brother was Arthur Ripley my dad. He and Jean were also friends. A few years after my mother died he and Jean began corresponding. Jean was single again also and living in St J with her father Perly Russel. Jean and a friend came to Seattle for a visit. Dad showed her around and I got to meet her. That fall dad left to visit her in St J and he never returned. They were married and lived happily there until he died of a stroke in 1975. Kris and I visited them twice during summer vacations, once with our young daughter Juliette. When Juliette was born I called dad and Jean with the good news. I told dad we named her Juliette and he said "Oh after my mother Julia." I did not know my grandmother was named Julia, she had passed before I was born, but I said "sure after her." It made him happy and I felt good about it too. From then on we all took it as the truth. I used to tell friends when they asked about my dad that he returned to VT and married his high school sweetheart. Jean told me they were both very happy during those last few years.