Jean Bier

Jean Arline Gerhold Bier, 91, passed away peacefully on October 25, 2023 in Mesquite,Texas after a long battle with dementia.

Jean was born on October 3, 1932 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to parents William and Hilda Gerhold and was the adoring lil' sister to Billy.

Jean grew up on a farm in Mingo, PA where she began her love for animals, especially horses and dogs. Jean graduated from Bethel Park High School, Bethel Park, PA in 1951 then went on to secretarial school and into the work force at Alcoa.  In 1952, Jean went on a blind date with a guy named Art who she ended up marrying on April 1, 1955. They were married for 59 years before he was called home in 2014.

Art and Jean lived in Pittsburgh, PA for several years before being transferred to New York City for his work. While in New York, Art and Jean expanded their family to four with the birth of their son, Brice, in 1958, and daughter, Leslie, in 1960. The spring of 1962 brought another transfer, this time across the oceans to Hong Kong. Jean was seven months pregnant with their third child, Taryn who was born in July of 1962. Life was challenging with three small children in a foreign country that was experiencing water rations and other growing pain issues. Despite all the obstacles and challenges , Jean embraced her new found residence and made the most of it.

She was busy raising three children while also finding time to do things to help others. She was a Cub Scout Den Mother, Servicemen's Guide Association Volunteer for servicemen coming for R&R during the Vietnam War. She was active in her children's school activities and learned to speak Cantonese fluently so she could communicate with the locals and assist the newly formed Boys Baseball League started by my dad and a couple of his friends. She was instrumental in gaining the trust of the locals to let their boys come play the new game of baseball. Jean continued her love of riding horses with weekly visits to the Hong Kong Jockey Club for rides on retired race horses. She was an awesome mom; always taking her children on hikes up the mountain or to the Tai Tam reservior, swimming at the beach, searching for living creatures in the ocean or going to the pool, tennis courts or Jockey Club to ride. She was a fantastic baker, and a dog handler as well, winning first place for her apple pie and Doberman showing at the Hong Kong Kennel Club Dog Show.

In 1973, the family returned to the United States and began a new adventure living in Washington, PA.  Jean returned to the workforce at Drakenfeld Colors as the Secretary to several plant managers before retiring in 1990. J ean and Art moved to Saxonburg, PA and she was able to renew her passion for riding again on her new horse Savannah. In 2002, Art and Jean retired to McCormick, SC where they enjoyed many good times on the lake, tennis court and golf course with friends and family. 2009 changed Jean's world when she sustained a head injury, broken neck and ribs from a terrible horse accident. She was told she would never ride again, but three months later was back in the saddle. Her memory began to get worse and she was diagnosed with Dementia, head trauma.but she maintained her love for life, family and riding. In 2013, Art and Jean, along with their dog Barron and her horse Belle, moved to Forney, TX to live with family.  Jean continued to ride often up until her 87th birthday and was able to take her last ride on her 90th birthday . She never lost her sense of humor, quick wit, and always knew she was the boss to everyone till her last day.

Jean was a devoted wife to Arthur Kenneth Bier and super mom to Brice Bier, Leslie (Patrick Oelke) Taryn (Mike Guelker). She is and always will be the fun loving, and adventurous grandma to Heather(Bier) and Jack Lu, Holly Bier, Ryan Oelke and Lauren Oelke, and great grandma to Elliott and Elsie Lu.

Jean loved people and treated everyone as a friend no matter who you were or where you came from. Many thanks to all her longtime caregivers: Tina, Shanthi, Sabrina, Shanna, and others along with the caring staff from Angel Valley Hospice, especially Shibi and her nurses Shija and Sheri. Many thanks to friends who gave of their time, included her in activities and were always there for support. Your kindness will always be remembered.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to:

Scottish Rite

Black Beauty Horse Ranch

Dallas Dog

Alzheimer Assoc or a charity of your choice.