Jean Howard Hampton
May 25, 1926 — December 5, 2020
A. Jean (Howard) Hampton, 94, of Branson, MO, formerly of Kimberling City, MO, and Little Rock, AR, left this life for her life in heaven on Saturday, December 5, 2020. She was born March 25, 1926, in Wichita Falls, TX, to the late Arnold H. and Luella C. (Fawks) Howard.
Jean was preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, Harold C. “Buddy” Hampton and her parents. She is survived by her two sons, Hal Hampton (Marti) of Little Rock, AR, and Mike Hampton (Charlotte) of Guy, AR. She leaves behind four grandchildren, Toni (James) Talley of West Branson, MO, Carson Hampton of Little Rock, AR, Thomas (Kristine) Hampton of Dallas, TX, and Erin (AJ) Jones of Iola, KS. In addition, there are ten great-grandchildren, Jason (Catherine) Harvey, Josh Harvey, Justin Talley, Jordan Talley, Aidan Jones, Gavin Jones, Reylynn Jones, Brynnan Jones, Elizabeth and Gunner Hampton.
As a young girl living in the panhandles of OK and TX, she and her mother lived with her grandparents she affectionately called “Momma” and “Papa.” These years are where she learned to ride and drive horses, shoot and hunt. It was also where Papa gave her, her own .22rifle, which is still in use today. During her school years she played basketball and learned to play coronet.
With the start of WWII, she joined the student nurse program in 1941. Following graduation from Claussen High School, Oklahoma City, she married Buddy Hampton. She lived in San Diego, CA, and worked on the Marine Corps installation while her husband crewed aircraft in the Pacific; thus began her life as a good Navy wife for the next 26 years. With the end of the war they moved to Dallas, TX, where her boys were born and she began a long relationship with Tupperware.
On January 30, 1956, Jean and her husband moved the family to Little Rock, AR, bringing with them the Tupperware Distributorship for the entire State of Arkansas. They ran this company for the next twelve years. During these years the office was across the street from Little Rock Central High School during the 1957 integration crisis; also, her Tupperware business was an initial occupant when Park Plaza Mall opened in Little Rock. After selling this business, she went to work for what would become Regions Bank. She also started a distributorship for VANDA cosmetics and skin care products.
Jean was a Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Ward Auxiliary, Post 9095, Little Rock, AR where she was a member of the Post Color Guard; she was also very active with the American Legion Lady’s Auxiliary, Little Rock, AR. Following the death of her husband in 1992, she moved to Kimberling City, MO, where she lived in her own apartment and drove her own car. It was while here she became very active with the local Senior Citizens Organization. She was well known and respected for her pool playing capabilities. She held officer positions for several years and won several medals in the Missouri Senior Games. She continued to help, eat meals and visit with other seniors at the center until she was required to live in an assisted living facility her last year of life. Her greatest joys in life, outside of her businesses and the senior center were her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Her family wishes to thank the entire staff at Morningside of Branson Meadows for how they demonstrated love and cared for Jean during the Covid crisis. Additionally, the family wishes to thank the medical personnel, especially David, RN, at Cox Hospital, Branson, for their compassionate care to her during her last days.
A graveside service only will be held Friday, December 11, 2020 at 2:00pm at Pinecrest Memorial Park in Alexander, Arkansas, with Reverend Donna Rountree officiating.
Jean was preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, Harold C. “Buddy” Hampton and her parents. She is survived by her two sons, Hal Hampton (Marti) of Little Rock, AR, and Mike Hampton (Charlotte) of Guy, AR. She leaves behind four grandchildren, Toni (James) Talley of West Branson, MO, Carson Hampton of Little Rock, AR, Thomas (Kristine) Hampton of Dallas, TX, and Erin (AJ) Jones of Iola, KS. In addition, there are ten great-grandchildren, Jason (Catherine) Harvey, Josh Harvey, Justin Talley, Jordan Talley, Aidan Jones, Gavin Jones, Reylynn Jones, Brynnan Jones, Elizabeth and Gunner Hampton.
As a young girl living in the panhandles of OK and TX, she and her mother lived with her grandparents she affectionately called “Momma” and “Papa.” These years are where she learned to ride and drive horses, shoot and hunt. It was also where Papa gave her, her own .22rifle, which is still in use today. During her school years she played basketball and learned to play coronet.
With the start of WWII, she joined the student nurse program in 1941. Following graduation from Claussen High School, Oklahoma City, she married Buddy Hampton. She lived in San Diego, CA, and worked on the Marine Corps installation while her husband crewed aircraft in the Pacific; thus began her life as a good Navy wife for the next 26 years. With the end of the war they moved to Dallas, TX, where her boys were born and she began a long relationship with Tupperware.
On January 30, 1956, Jean and her husband moved the family to Little Rock, AR, bringing with them the Tupperware Distributorship for the entire State of Arkansas. They ran this company for the next twelve years. During these years the office was across the street from Little Rock Central High School during the 1957 integration crisis; also, her Tupperware business was an initial occupant when Park Plaza Mall opened in Little Rock. After selling this business, she went to work for what would become Regions Bank. She also started a distributorship for VANDA cosmetics and skin care products.
Jean was a Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Ward Auxiliary, Post 9095, Little Rock, AR where she was a member of the Post Color Guard; she was also very active with the American Legion Lady’s Auxiliary, Little Rock, AR. Following the death of her husband in 1992, she moved to Kimberling City, MO, where she lived in her own apartment and drove her own car. It was while here she became very active with the local Senior Citizens Organization. She was well known and respected for her pool playing capabilities. She held officer positions for several years and won several medals in the Missouri Senior Games. She continued to help, eat meals and visit with other seniors at the center until she was required to live in an assisted living facility her last year of life. Her greatest joys in life, outside of her businesses and the senior center were her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Her family wishes to thank the entire staff at Morningside of Branson Meadows for how they demonstrated love and cared for Jean during the Covid crisis. Additionally, the family wishes to thank the medical personnel, especially David, RN, at Cox Hospital, Branson, for their compassionate care to her during her last days.
A graveside service only will be held Friday, December 11, 2020 at 2:00pm at Pinecrest Memorial Park in Alexander, Arkansas, with Reverend Donna Rountree officiating.
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