Jeanie May (Strand) Chilton, age 95, went home to see the Lord on 8/12/2021, in Denton, Texas, where she had lived since 1995.  She passed peacefully in her sleep.  She was born as Eugenia May Yount in Pittsboro, Indiana, to William Doty Yount and Helen Louise (Lee) Yount.  She graduated from Midland High School in Midland, TX (1944). In 1952, Jeanie was the founder and first president of the National Natural Childbirth Education Association in Dayton, OH. She later earned a BS degree in Biology/Pre-medicine at Central State University, Wilberforce, Ohio (1963).  While at Central State University, Jeanie worked in the public relations office, which started her on a career path that she never anticipated.  Once out of college, she then spent the next 40 years practicing her craft of writing, journalism, and public relations.  During her career, she had various roles as a newspaper reporter, copy editor, women's editor, chief editorial writer and page editor, and at times had her own column on the editorial page of several newspapers, including the Dayton Daily News (Ohio), Springfield News-Sun (Ohio), Wheeling Intelligencer (West Virginia), and the Sandusky Register (Ohio).

During her years in journalism, she came in contact with many interesting public figures, like astronaut John Glenn before his run for the US Senate, astronaut Neil Armstrong's parents when he landed on the moon, and Madeline Murry O'Hair during the Supreme Court deliberations to remove prayer from public schools. She also worked with 1960s television host Phil Donohue suggesting talent from her alma mater Central State that might appear on his show.  Jeanie spent several years after retiring as the public relations coordinator for the Christian Retreat organization in Bradenton, FL.

Jeanie was also very interested in politics.  She ran for the office of County Commissioner in Bradenton, Florida, worked on political campaigns through the years, was a Republican Precinct Chair in Denton, TX, as well as an active member of the Republican Women's organization in Ohio, Florida, and Texas.  In 2003, she was appointed as a member of the Denton Housing Authority Board (Denton, TX), and was a licensed real estate agent in Florida and Texas.  Jeanie was also very active in the North Texas Toast Masters Organization, earning her Distinguished Toast Master Gold Award and became the Area Governor for all of North Texas at age 80.

Jeanie was a life-long Christian and loved the Lord.  She was the ghost writer for a book called "Light Through an Eastern Window" (1963) authored by Bishop K.C. Pillai, and authored a follow-up book called "Eastern Customs of the Bible" (2010). Jeanie spent many years teaching the Bible, including the Bible's eastern customs and what they mean.  She was member of the Denton Christian Church, and was active at the Gateway Baptist Church in Denton for many years. She also spent several years as a member of the Denton Senior Center Choir, which she always enjoyed. Jeanie lived her final days at The Vintage Senior Care Center in Denton, TX, and will be missed by so many family members and friends.

Jeanie is preceded in death by her parents and brother William Yount, her husband of 39 years Oliver T. Strand, Jr., and later husband Robert Chilton, as well as daughter Charlotte (Schaffnit) Gallapoo.  She is survived by her son, Oliver T. Strand III (Barbara), daughter Dolores Segaard (Robert), and daughter Dorothy Flores (Raymon).  Jeanie is also survived by eight grandchildren, as well as six great-grandchildren.

Jeanie will be laid to rest in Marblehead, Ohio, beside her husband Oliver.

Jeanie loved cats and loved to read. Any donations in her name may be sent to either/both:

Denton Animal Support Association: https://www.dentonasf.com/

Literacy Texas Organization: https://www.literacytexas.org/

The family would like to thank all of the staff at The Vintage Senior Care Center in Denton, TX, for making our mom's last years as pleasant and comfortable as they could possibly be.  We appreciate all the care and kindness that you gave to her over the years.

Thank you,

The Family of Jeanie (Strand) Chilton.