Jean Mainous passed away January 23, 2012 at the age of 91 in her home in Denton, Texas. She was born July 11, 1920 in Tulsa Oklahoma.

Jean, a highly accomplished master musician and long time member of the piano faculty at the University of North Texas, began playing piano at the age of four and violin at the age of ten. She won her first piano competition at the age of five. Her study of piano and violin led her to Louisiana State University where she was awarded scholarships in both instruments.

After receiving a Bachelors degree from LSU in 1942, with majors in piano and violin, Jean went to Yale University on scholarships culminating in the prestigious Charles Ditson Fellowship for foreign study and travel. Yale awarded her two degrees, another Bachelor of Music in Violin in 1943 and a Master of Music in Piano in 1944.

Jean went from Yale to the Juilliard Graduate School of Music, where she earned her diploma and studied piano with Olga Samaroff Stokowski. Jean taught in New York at the Manhattan School of Music and at the Juilliard School of Music before returning to the Southwest. In 1948 Jean accepted a position at the University Of North Texas College Of Music where she taught until her marriage to fellow faculty member Frank Mainous in 1951.

In following years Jean traveled extensively throughout North America, in many European countries including Russia and the Baltic States, and in the Far East. In Taiwan she served on the faculty of the Summer Music Institute. Jean returned to UNT in 1979 where she taught until her retirement in 1997. In addition to extensive tours as a soloist and accompanist, Jean appeared as featured soloist with orchestras, including the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and in chamber music ensembles and as duo-pianist with her long time friend Mary Nan Mailman. Jean also was heard on National PBS programs and recorded for the Musical Heritage Society.

Jean was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Denton, P.E.O. Sisterhood; Sigma Alpha Iota, The International Fraternity for Women; The Denton Bach Society, the Music Department of the Ariel Club, the Denton Music Teachers Association, Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, Mortar Board National Honor Society, and the Presbyterian Woman's Book Club

Jean was preceded in death by her husband Frank Mainous, a fellow musician and UNT professor emeritus in 2007. Jean is survived by her daughter, Margot Mainous of Denton and her son, Doug Mainous of Houston.

A memorial service will be held at a future date and the family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Dean's Camerata - Jean Mainous Piano Scholarship at the University of North Texas, 1155 Union Circle #311367, Denton, Texas 76203-5017.