Jean Hahn

On October 19, 2016, Mother (Elizabeth Jean Walker Hahn) passed peacefully at home from this life to Heaven at the sunrise on the wings of cardinals and her favorite song, "Morning Has Broken." She was surrounded by her children - Karl George Hahn, Elizabeth Joan Hahn Spilinek, Brian Eugene Hahn, Mary Lea Hahn Richards and Craig Edwin Hahn - as well as her Goddaughter, Joanna Wheelock Segovia.

Mother was born on September 29, 1937 in Wallace, Idaho to George Nathaniel Thomas Walker and Leah Ophelia Collins Walker. She grew up in Lake City and Columbia, South Carolina, as well as Washington DC. While an undergraduate at the University of Idaho in Moscow, she met her future husband, Edwin Franklin Hahn. They were married in Columbia, South Carolina on August 15, 1959 and enjoyed a rich and rewarding life together until his passing in 2006.

Throughout the years, Mother was a lifelong teacher, both as a career and part of her volunteer work. Prior to retirement she taught in schools throughout Gaston and Cleveland Counties. She instilled her love of reading and learning in each of her children and grandchildren, taking every opportunity to reinforce books with examples from life through many hundreds of field trips with her children.
Mother touched many lives through her journey, always feeling that her faith, family and friends were her greatest blessings.

Mother was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and her sister, Joan Walker Wheelock.

She is survived by her sons, Karl of Cherryville, NC; Brian (Debbie) of Midlothian, Virginia & Craig (Donna) of Warrenton, NC; daughters, Elizabeth Spilinek (Chris) of Hastings, Nebraska and Mary Lea Richards (Holden) of Hillsborough, NC; and Goddaughter, Joanna Wheelock Segovia of Santa Maria, California. Additionally, Mother was blessed with 10 grandchildren - Christopher Hahn, Ashley Hahn, Eric Hahn, Cara Richards, Will Richards, Mason Spilinek, Collin Spilinek, Sarah Spilinek, Lindsey Hahn and Kurt Hahn. Great grandchildren include Cody Hahn, Madeline Hahn and Caroline Hahn.

The family will receive friends and loved ones on Friday, October 21, 2016 from 5:30pm - 8:00pm at the family's home in Cherryville. A memorial service will be held Saturday at First Presbyterian Church of Cherryville, led by Dr. Bill Lowe at 5:00pm. A visitation with the family and friends will follow the service in the Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a gift of potted flowers for Mother & Daddy's Garden, a donation to Hospice of Gaston County or a gift to the library of your choice.

They say that when someone passes, a light has gone out in this world. We believe that Mother's light was so bright, fueled by an endless love, that her light has simply moved from earth to shine from heaven as a new star above.