Jean France

Jean Maulsby France was one of those people.

Jean was one of those people who was genuinely curious about the world around her, about the people with her. She had a knack for listening acutely and connecting deeply with whomever was speaking to her, and for responding in a way that elevated the speaker.

Jean was one of those people who rated fun, fairness, helping others, and camaraderie among her top priorities. She saw life as art. Jean rarely passed up the chance to inspire art-making. Each moment was an opportunity to create and to collaborate creatively. Every stone, flower, tree, wild bird and animal was a gift of nature. Every surface was a display venue.

Jean was one of those people who refused to let the pitfalls of life get her down permanently. She’d take a hit and bounce back, facing life straight on. Her devastating early losses, including her own mom when Jean was 13, and her beloved daughter Elaine, aged 52, seemed to re-inspire her to make the most of her time on Earth. Jean’s energy and fortitude, her resilience, are legendary among her loved ones.

Florence Jean Maulsby France, February 5, 1926–August 15, 2022, was the last of 7 children born to Florence Goldtree Maulsby and Frederick Roscoe Maulsby of Berkeley, California. Jean was shocked to discover, on her first day of school, that her name was Florence Jean, but “Jean” she remained throughout her long life.

When she was 8 years old the family headed east to New Rochelle, NY. After high school, Jean and her sister Meredith moved to Manhattan with their father, where Jean studied art at The Cooper Union. At the time, magazine graphics were largely drawn and painted by illustrators. Jean modeled for several ads. The artists often switched faces, but Jean’s youthful figure appeared in publications including the Saturday Evening Post.

In 1947 her life took a turn that would determine the next 75 years. Jean was 21 when she met Wesley Newkirk France, a WWII veteran and eager young chicken farmer. Wes had just bought a 60-acre farm near North Branch, NJ, on the G.I. Bill and was restoring it with the help of his family. He named the property Featherwyck in honor of his anticipated flocks.

Wes and Jean married on June 26, 1948. Jean morphed from city girl to country girl with aplomb. Perhaps that’s when her lifelong preference began of being barefoot whenever possible. With Wes’s father Abbott France, an architect and master carpenter, Wes and Jean worked tirelessly to transform the Revolutionary-era abandoned farmhouse into a charming vintage showpiece. Chickens remained a key presence at Featherwyck, although Wes’s work with Ortho Pharmaceuticals eclipsed full-time farming.

For Jean, life on a farm was a learning experience and one she faced intrepidly. Friendly horned cows jumped the fence to visit with the kids in the sandbox. “Tame” crows grabbed every shiny thing the humans set down. Lambs escaped from the field and were chased for miles. Territorial roosters sometimes became aggressive. Young goats would occasionally butt ladies bending over to hang the washing.

The couple had 3 children, Leslie Jean France, Elaine Maulsby France, and Wesley Newkirk France, Jr. Jean and Wes were fully involved in their kids’ activities. They whole-heartedly supported the PTA and school events, Little League, local charity drives, and the Somerset County 4-H clubs. Each child raised animals—sheep, rabbits, ducks—for 4-H. Luke, the handsome prizewinning drake, is responsible for Featherwyck’s address on Lukes Pond Road.

Jean was a social galvanizer, known for her quirky humor, out-of-the-box imagination, sewing expertise, pottery-making, delicious food and enthusiastic hospitality. She and Wes hosted skating parties on the pond, Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings, and world-class Halloween shindigs that are still talked about.

Art continued to drive Jean’s choices. As her kids grew more independent, she worked out of the home as art director for several years with Bateman & Associates, a local advertising firm. Later, and for more than 40 years, Jean and her close ceramics buddies enjoyed making pottery at Raritan Valley Community College. Jean became known for, among other pieces, her garlic pots, which she sold and gave away by the score.

Wes was 42 when he contracted spinal encephalitis. Due to his brain injury, Jean became his devoted caregiver, a role that escalated until Wes’s death at 80.

Despite the setback, Jean and Wes celebrated life with their usual vitality. In the early ‘70s they sold 50 acres of the farm to a carefully chosen developer who created a lovely community around the farmhouse. Neighbors became lifelong friends. Featherwyck house received another update, adding several rooms, including a greenhouse, to supplement Jean’s passion for growing things.

After Wes’s passing in 2000, Jean, then 75, remained at Featherwyck and dove more deeply into her arts—pottery, gardening, adventures with family and friends. In 2020, as COVID shut down the world, her daughter Leslie moved to Featherwyck to ensure Jean’s safety and comfort. In July 2021 it was determined that Jean could no longer remember well enough to remain safe, and needed 24-hour care. Jean was blessed to receive that additional help from a compassionate team of caregivers who quickly fell under her “spell” and became loyal friends.

Jean never shied away from talking about her mortality and her desire to move on, sometimes to the chagrin of medical professionals whose job it was to prolong her life. She was ready to go as soon as the time was right. That time became right on August 15, 2022. At 96 years old Jean passed with the grace she demonstrated all her life.

Jean was one of those people. An extraordinary friend and mentor. We will never forget her and will be forever grateful.

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Jean is survived by her daughter Leslie France and son Wesley (Lee) France, 6 grandchildren—Megan France Johnson, Kathleen Simko Crandall, Jennifer France Dzanko, Caroline Simko, Ian France and Julia Simko—and 8 great-grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main St., Flemington NJ. For further information or to leave an online condolence, please visit www.holcombefisher.com.