Jean Lynn McGroarty,
66, of Flora, died Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017, at St. Vincent's Medical Center in
Kokomo. She had battled breast cancer since 1992.
She was born Aug.
31, 1951, in Chesterton, Indiana, to the late Edward and Catherine (Swenson)
McGroarty.
On Dec. 4, 1976,
she married David Samuelson in Battle Ground and he survives.
McGroarty's
survivors include her sister Susan Kurman (Allan) of Albuquerque; brother
James (Judy) McGroarty of Indianapolis; daughters Nora Samuelson of
Pittsburgh and Haley Samuelson of Logansport; and grandson Owen Couchman of
Zionsville. A sister, Ellen Young, preceded her in death. She also
maintained a loving relationship with her former son-in-law Randy Couchman
of Zionsville and his wife, Abby Fuller-Couchman.
After graduation
from Chesterton High School, McGroarty attended Purdue University, receiving
a Bachelor of Arts in French and Secondary Education in 1972. After working
for the Tippecanoe Historical Association, the Girl Scouts of Sycamore
Council and the Tippecanoe County Humane Society, she became Executive
Director of the Providence (R.I.) Animal Rescue League in 2004. Two years
later she became Executive Director of the Kokomo Humane Society and was
instrumental in creating a capital campaign raising funds for a new
facility, currently under construction. Health reasons forced her retirement
in 2014. McGroarty was also an active member of the Society of Animal
Welfare Administrators, receiving her certification in 2006. She was active
in the arts, supervising productions for Civic Theater of Greater Lafayette
and performing with its improv troupe, "One Size Fits All." McGroarty was
also a published author, contributing two essays to Nina Shandler's 2001
book Ophelia's Mom. A member of the Story Circle Network, McGroarty chaired
its National Conference Scholarship Committee in 2002.
McGroarty's life
will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Saturday, October 21, at the Hippensteel
Tribute Center; 405 Cottage Street; Delphi, Indiana. Visitation will be
begin at 1 p.m. Interment will be in Pentwater Township Cemetery; Pentwater,
Mich.
In lieu of flowers,
memorial contributions can be made to the Kokomo Humane Society Building
Fund; 713 N. Elizabeth St.; Kokomo, IN 46901.