Died November 7, 2020.

Victory Christian Academy, Decatur, TX

Sixth Grade

Obituary:

Graveside service for Jan Stein, 71, of Bridgeport, is 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, at Thomas Cemetery in Bridgeport, officiated by Pastor Kevin Casey. Jan passed away Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in Denton.

Jan was born March 19, 1949, in Bakersfield, Calif. to parents Raymond Junior Gandy and wife Jerrie Sue (Harber) Gandy.

While attending college at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Jan saw a young college student walking across the campus. Apparently they were smitten with each other from the beginning. Jan even said that if he’d asked if she would have married him on their first date.

She married the love of her life, Paul Stein June 1, 1968, in Wickett. This union produced children Sydnee and Stevan. And over the years kids of all ages found themselves a home with the Steins.

Jan taught in South and West Texas before coming to Wise County. The family moved to Bridgeport in 1983 and Paul and Jan both worked for Bridgeport ISD, where Jan taught a variety of grades and subjects, but in particular worked as a sixth-grade math or science teacher. She is remembered fondly by students throughout the years.

After retirement in 2010, Jan, a natural born teacher, decided that she wasn’t quite through and got the chance to teach in a Christian school. She taught at Victory Christian Academy in Decatur a job that she cherished, up until she contracted COVID-19 pneumonia in October 2020.

She wasn’t just a teacher though. She loved molding young students’ minds to the more important things in life, such as learning the art of gratitude, as well as respecting others. Particularly at Victory Christian Academy she considered herself to be a disciple to those students. She will be forever remembered as a woman with a gift for instilling excellence into her students.

On a personal level, Jan was a homebody who loved cooking, gardening and doing home d cor projects. There wasn’t one room in Paul’s and Jan’s house that hasn’t been completely remodeled at least twice. That’s where she spent her time when she wasn’t teaching ,and she wanted it to be comfortable and attractive, an accomplishment she achieved with every redo.

Forever impacted by her life are her husband of 52 years, Paul Stein of Bridgeport; daughter Sydnee Stein of Northern Virginia; son Stevan Stein and wife, Tammy, of Fort Collins, Colo.; sister Linda Boudreaux and husband, Rayln, of Bartlesville, Okla.; brother Matt Gandy and wife, Cindy, of Carlsbad, N.M.; grandchildren Noah, Zoe, Eva, Mia and Shiloh Stein; great-granddaughter Echo Stein; nieces Vicki Johnston of Alexandria, Vir. and NickiKane and husband, Eric, of Louisiana; nephews Doug Boudreaux and wife, Cyndee, of Bartlesville and Garret Gandy and wife, Kristin, of Midland; close family friend Stan Laing and wife, Linda, of Boerne; numerous nieces and nephews; and past and present students.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sister Tina Curry and husband, Doug, and their daughter Kimberly Ann.

In addition to being a teacher at Victory, Jan was also an active member of The Father’s House Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Victory Christian Academy Scholarship Fund, 600 W Mulberry, Decatur, TX 76234, and/or to The Father’s House Church, 4337 US-380, Decatur, TX 76234.