M. Jean Holland

On August 30, 2016 M. Jean Holland departed this earthly plain due to Multiple System Atrophy.
She is survived by her spouse, Pamela Babjack; her siblings Joann Christopher, Jack Holland, and Joyce Evans; several nieces, nephews, and great ones, too.
She was excited to be going - leaving the disease behind and to start a new adventure. Jean's strong, courageous spirit is easily seen by her accomplishments and her adventures; her kind, compassionate, loyal, loving heart were the timeless and overarching qualities that so profoundly and deeply influenced her friends and family. Never known to be the 'touchy-feely' type, her compassion and strength gently but firmly encouraged others to overcome challenges; of which an army of family and friends can attest that her counsel and encouragement was the underlying force that beckoned them on to success and victory.
She was an LPN, a VISTA volunteer, graduated from Urbana College with a sociology degree, protested the Vietnam war, then she joined the Army in Arizona one terribly hot day, when a recruiter offered her an ice cold Coke in front of an idyllic, refreshing scene of the German countryside. A 2-year enlistment turned into a successful 24-year career, earning the rank of Master Sergeant and graduating from the Sergeants Major Academy in Ft. Bliss, TX, where she became an instructor.
Joining the Army after protesting the war was not a contradiction - she spent her career helping others as a career counselor, and performed thousands of other exciting and cool duties as assigned. Wherever the Army sent her she traveled extensively and with gusto, leaving nothing undone or unexplored; the only outlier being Iceland...which was NOT her spouse's fault!
Anyway, she earned 2 Masters degrees; one in Education, the other, a Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine. She studied dowsing and her spiritual practice was as unique as she was and not to be confined by any yet to be established creed or church - the principles espoused by the White Lily Chapel best reflected what she believed. Jean's life was all about helping others be their best, which came from an endless flow of kindness, compassion, love, and patience. Jean was the best girl ever.
In lieu of flowers, please donate a goat or chicken in her name through Heifer International, 1 World Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72202.
Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016 in Walter & Stowe Funeral Home, Urbana, followed by a service at 1 p.m.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.walterfunerals.com.