Thelma "Jean" McGrew

Thelma “Jean” McGrew, born on March 8, 1936, passed away with her family at her side on Saturday, November 4, 2023, in Wichita, Kansas. Jean will be remembered as the matriarch of her family, a wonderful person with a heart of gold, a great friend, and an avid sports enthusiast. She was a devoted mother and homemaker, showing her love through food and entertaining. Jean graduated from North High in 1953 and attended the University of Kansas. She spent years at motocross tracks across Kansas, following her three sons who raced. Though not immediately drawn to the sport, Jean acquiesced and became head scorer for many races at the Prairie Pups race track near Yoder, Kansas. She was the motocross mom to many in the pits. Jean was a big basketball fan. Between 1991 and 2017, she attended 16 Final Fours. In 2013, Jean was able to see her beloved Wichita State Shockers win the Western Regional finals in Los Angeles, California, and go on to play in the Final Four in Atlanta. She attended many Kansas City Chiefs games as well. She was a Life Master contract bridge player, as she loved the challenge of intellect and teamwork in the game. Jean had many partners through the years but spent most of those playing and winning with Francis Caldwell of Hutchinson, Kansas. Jean was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest Franklin Diehl and Thelma Lucille (Crites) Diehl, of Wichita, KS; by her husband of over 50 years, Kenneth Arlen McGrew, who passed in May 2007; and her brothers-in-law, Bruce McGrew of Oracle, AZ, and Harry Frazier of Wichita, KS. She is survived by her two sisters, Norma Frazier and Darlene (Craig) Young, both of Wichita, KS; sisters-in-law, Barbara (Harold) Peterson of Tucson, AZ, and Joy McGrew of Oracle, AZ; her three sons, Kelly (Liza Glick) of Park City, UT, Kevin (Eva Bayon) of Davis, CA, and Kent (Corinne) of Frisco, CO; her grandchildren, Ellen of Davis CA, Lucas (Taylor Penaflor) of Madrid, Spain, Hannah of Denver, CO, Molly (Alec Kaljian) of Fort Collins, CO, Colin (Julia Tunze) of Grand Rapids, MI, and Megan of St. Louis, MO; and Kim Goldsmith McGrew. Jean is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews. Funeral Services will be Thursday, November 9, 2023, at Downing & Lahey West Mortuary. Donations in memory can be made to the: Thelma McGrew Memorial for the Kenneth McGrew Scholarship c/o WSU Foundation, 1845 Fairmount Street, Wichita, Kansas 67260. Funeral Service will be Live Streamed and available to view by clicking the "Watch Now" button below.

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