Jana Chris Jean, 67, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 9, 2026 after a long battle with cancer. She was born January 28, 1958 to parents George and Jeanette (Ethridge) Atwood in Edmond, Oklahoma. She married Charles Thomas Jean on Friday, May 13, 1978.

After marriage, Jana was a stay-at-home mother and officer's wife, supporting her husband's military career and development of her two children, Chris and Annie. Never one to take it easy, she readily volunteered, such as serving as a Boy Scout Troop Leader and later as a Housing Area Mayor of Ft. Riley, Kansas during the Gulf War.

After moving back to Oklahoma City, Jana completed her Bachelor's degree in Education at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond and later completed a Master's degree in School Administration at Southern Nazarene University. Teaching remained a lifelong passion for Jana long after her medical condition forced her to retire. She taught science at two schools in south Oklahoma City, first at Capitol Hill High School, and later at Santa Fe South High School and Middle School. Known as "Mean Jean" and later "Queen Jean" by her students, she was strict, fun, and loved her students fiercely – believing in them even when they didn't always believe in themselves. Through teaching, Jana impacted the lives of many students and made lasting friendships.

She was diagnosed with an incredibly aggressive cancer around 2015 and was told she would likely only live 6-9 months. Ever a stubborn woman, she decided that cancer would not have the final say. She fought cancer and won, going into remission for 10 years. During that time she got to see three of her four grandchildren be born. She delighted in being an active part of all four of her grandchildren's growth and development. No role suited her better than Grandma.

Jana was full of the wonder of life. She found joy in all things and encouraged others to do the same. She enjoyed gardening, photography and travel, and was incredibly competitive when it came to playing games with her family. She enjoyed all forms of artistic endeavors, except music. She often joked that she couldn't carry a tune. While she couldn't sing well, she planned the most interesting events from trips to parties, often building intricate decorations and props by hand.

Jana is survived by her husband, Charles Jean; children, Christopher Jean and Annie Emmons; parents, George and Jeanette Atwood; brothers, Joe Atwood and Vaughn Woody; grandchildren, AJ and Logan Jean and Tommy and Joey Emmons; best friends, Carol and Milo Kelly; and many more relatives and friends whom she cherished deeply.

A Celebration of Life will be held on her birthday, Wednesday, January, 28 at 2:30pm at Mercer-Adams Funeral Service Chapel in Bethany. Interment of ashes will be scheduled at Ft. Sill National Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Jana's memory may be made to Santa Fe South School in Oklahoma City.