Jean Emily Heinze Dailey

Jean Emily Heinze Dailey, 77, passed away on Saturday, December 20, 2025, with her loving family by her side. She was born in Portage, WI, on August 15, 1948, to the late Leon and Ruth Rodger Heinze.

 Her childhood was enjoyable at the family dairy farm with her two brothers and three sisters. She attended local schools and graduated from Portage High School in 1966. She attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison, WI, where she met her husband, and graduated with a BS in English Education.

Jean began her professional career in 1970, teaching in Seattle, WA. After her marriage to Robert (Bob) Dailey in Portage, WI, on August 22, 1971, she taught in Madison and Portage, WI, while Bob was in graduate school. After they moved to Atlanta, she taught at Avondale High School in Decatur, GA, until they moved to Morgantown in 1977, when Bob joined the faculty at West Virginia University. Jean continued her education at West Virginia University, graduating with an MA in Education in 1979.

After raising her children, she began teaching English 101 at West Virginia University. She transitioned to The College of Law, where, as a writing specialist, she instructed numerous first year law students.

The consummate teacher assisted students in writing theses and professional applications and lectured in graduate writing seminars, including presentations at West Virginia Judicial meetings. Her expression was “I am silently correcting your grammar.” She truly enjoyed helping others. Jean also believed in the written word, writing letters and cards with notes to commemorate birthdays, anniversaries, and other life events.

In her retirement, she became an accomplished quilter and made and gave away many quilts to family, friends, and friends of friends. As a grandmother, she cherished time spent with her grandchildren baking cookies and vacationing in Canaan Valley, WV and the Outer Banks, NC. Jean was known for her baking and for sharing her baked goods freely. Jean had a penchant for helping, especially young women, and was active through P.E.O. (a philanthropic educational organization), serving as president of Chapter W.

She was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Morgantown as a deacon and elder and a circle member. For over 45 years, she taught Sunday School, served on a wide variety of committees and boards, worked in numerous ways to strengthen her church and community and support Presbyterian Women.

She was a stalwart for Days for Girls. Her legacy includes the local, national, and international women affected by her generosity and care.

Jean leaves her husband of 54 years, her sons Brian (Mary) in Pittsburgh and Eric (Amanda) in Media, PA., and her daughter Susanna McMillen in Morgantown. Her siblings include Nancy (Harvey, deceased) Sampson in Appleton, WI, Thomas (Mary) in Portage, WI, Susan (Mike) Wildrick in Madison, WI, David, deceased, (Celine) in Madison, and Anne (Al) in Urbana, IL. She was the proud grandmother of Leora Jean, Ruby Gwen, and Iris Ruth Dailey in Pittsburgh, PA, and of Gabriel Thomas and Maeve Charlotte Dailey in Media, PA. She leaves behind brothers and sisters-in-law, numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and many friends.

Hastings Funeral Home has been entrusted with cremation services.

Friends and family will be received at First Presbyterian Church, 456 Spruce St, Morgantown on Saturday, January 3rd from 11:00am until the time of the memorial service at 1:00pm with Rev. Zac Morton officiating.

The family is indebted to the superb care of the staff of the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center and WVU Medicine Hospice.

The family requests that gifts be made to an organization of your choice, but recommends for donations in Jean’s memory may be made to P.E.O.( c/o Pam Houck, 1125 Windsor Avenue, Morgantown, WV 26505) or Presbyterian Women (456 Spruce St, Morgantown, WV 26505).

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.hastingsfuneralhome.com