It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Jean Evelyn Raymond, age 97, who died peacefully at the Garden Home in PEI on June 15, 2024. Jean was born in Montreal on October 14, 1926 to a UK immigrant. She was adopted soon after by Gordon and Dorothy Beattie (Tomlinson) and grew up in Montreal, QC.

Jean worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant, but above all, she was an accomplished artist and art teacher. Jean was first introduced to watercolors in her high school by a very talented British artist who instilled some good habits during those early experiences.

After graduation, Jean entered the Museum of Fine Arts in Montreal to study Child Art Education under the direction of Dr. Arthur Lismer.  At the same time, Jean attended Fine Arts Studies at the gallery, under the tutelage of Goodridge Roberts, Tanguay, A.Y. Jackson and Gordon Webber, to name a few.  When this teaching course of four years ended, Jean returned to her high school as an art teacher.

After marriage, Jean moved to the outskirts of Montreal and set up an art center to engage children from ages six to teens.  After ten years, Jean started her own family and then spent two years in the Canary Islands, Spain, before returning to Montreal to take a course in nursing as a CNA. 

Jean later moved to Nova Scotia in 1976 where she worked at Victoria General Hospital then at Roseway Manor, both in Shelburne.  Jean re-married Edward Raymond who had lived most of his adult life in Southwest Nova Scotia.  Jean and Ed had a great life together, RV-ing to and from Florida each winter and taking side trips to the Canaries, England, and the British Virgin Islands. 

After retiring, Jean returned to her first love – watercolor painting. Jean started up a small gallery in Barrington Passage where she enjoyed meeting people and making great contacts with travelers from across Canada and the States.  

In 2006, Jean moved to PEI to live with her youngest son, Adrian, and his family, where she continued her arts and crafts pursuits. In 2020 Jean moved to the Garden Home in Charlottetown, PEI.

Jean will be lovingly remembered by her family as a caring Mother and Grandmother. Jean impacted those around her in so many ways. She was a mentor and guide. She enriched our lives through her sharing nature, particularly by teaching arts and crafts or giving her paintings to family. She had an incredible green thumb that could grow anything, anywhere. In fact, gardening was her second passion next to art.   Those who knew Jean well will also remember her great sense of humor and incredible resilience. She will be missed.

Jean is survived by her children: Genevieve Allman, Victor Desbarats and Adrian Desbarats; stepchildren: Dianne Nickerson, Paulette Raymond, Pauline Raymond; grandchildren: Luke, Tanya, Styles, Andrea and Erin; step grandchildren: Marcia, Kira, Emily, Philip, William (predeceased), Hannah, Ryan, Mathew, and Christopher; and thirteen great grandchildren.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Belvedere Funeral Home. A Graveside Service will be held on Tuesday, July 2 at 11 a.m. at Mountain Cemetery in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.