JEAN BEST MCARTHY
1933-2017
Jean Best McArthy, 83, passed away on June 23, 2017. She was born to Walter Best and Lillian Opal Gillespie Best in Gas City, Indiana. She graduated from Logansport High School with treasured lifelong friends and attended Indiana State Teachers College. In 1956 she married her high school sweetheart Phillip Morris McArthy. She was a devoted and loving mother to their four children as they moved around the country with Phil’s Exxon job. They settled into the close-knit community of Norchester in 1970 where Jean followed her lifelong passion of community leadership and working with young people. Mrs. “Mac” was a dedicated and inspirational scout leader to boys and girls of all ages. She was leader of a Cub Scout troop of boys with special needs, took her daughters’ senior troops to the International Center for Girl Scouts in Adelboden Switzerland, and in her later years mentored disadvantaged girls in scouting. She served in her community tirelessly as both board member and Norchester Club Manager for many years providing jobs for neighborhood teens and a home away from home for many of Norchester’s youth. She was a lifelong member of the philanthropic PEO sisterhood, promoting educational opportunities and celebrating the advancement of women. She was an avid animal lover, enjoyed tennis, playing bridge, gardening and the theater.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years Phillip Morris McArthy Sr., her two sons Phillip Morris Jr., and William Leland, brothers Arthur Ray Best and Willis “Dink” Best. She is survived by her sister Barbara Best Early, twin brother Jackie Lee Best, daughter Patrice Diane McArthy and husband Mark Alan Blackwell, daughter Susan McArthy Thomas and husband Stuart Michael Thomas, and grandchildren Austin William and Kallan Paige Thomas, and many treasured nieces, nephews and friends.
A celebration of Jean’s life with be held on Sunday, July 23rd, 3:00 p.m. at Windwood Presbyterian Church, 10555 Spring Cypress Road, Houston.
The family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in her honor be directed to Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council, 3110 Southwest Frwy., Houston, TX 77098 donate.gssjc.org (713)292-0346.