Earlene Booth Dean

Earlene Booth Dean, 83, of Comer, GA, went to be with her heavenly Father on the 19th day of May 2025.

Earlene was born on the 23rd day of April 1942, to Buford Candler Booth and Willie Lee McGarity Booth in Royston, GA and grew up in the Harrison community. She married the love of her life, Jack Edsel Dean, on the 15th day of October 1963. On the fifth day of November 1964, Jack and Earlene welcomed their first child, Mark Joseph Dean. Three years later, on the 26th day of December 1967, they welcomed their second child, Lea Anne Dean.

Earlene obtained a degree as a licensed practical nurse, but made the decision, once her children were born, to become a homemaker. After a brief stay in the Atlanta area, the Dean Family relocated back to Madison County. Once their children were older, Earlene began working in the fire tower, and she certainly had some stories to tell about her fire tower days.

Earlene was an active member of Meadow Baptist Church. She was a part of The Good News Club at Comer Elementary School, participated in the church choir, and was known for bringing her delicious pimento cheese sandwiches to all the church functions.

She was also one of the committee leaders for the J.O.Y. (Just Older Youth) group at church and enjoyed the shopping outings or other excursions with fellow members. She enjoyed the ladies'birthday club that met for lunch at one of the local restaurants once a month.

Earlene was an integral part of a mission at church to provide backpacks full of supplies for children in need, both locally and in Tennessee. She loved to go shopping for all the goodies that went into the bags and even made the trip a couple of years to hand-deliver the bags to the children.

As a breast cancer survivor, Earlene also gave her time by volunteering with the cancer support organization, TJ & Friends. She often baked her delicious cakes to auction off at their fundraising events.

She loved her shopping trips and visits with her dear friend, Leeann McMullan. Leeann and her husband, George, helped to take care of Earlene at various times of her life and became not only friends but family.

Jack and Earlene welcomed their first grandchild, Kaitlin, in 1993. Earlene loved to share stories of her adventures with Kaitlin. She was the light of her life from the time she was born until Earlenetook her last breath with Kaitlin by her side, along with her friend,Leeann. In 2002, Jack and Earlene welcomed their second grandchild, Owen. He brought so much joy to them, and they relished time with him.

In 2021, Earlene gained four more grandchildren, Laine, Riley, Taylor & Alex, when Mark married Karen. Earlene enjoyed coming over for family dinner and movie nights and sitting on the front porch with a cup of sweet tea, watching the boys play in the front yard.

How can one adequately honor and memorialize a person and the life they led? How can one encompass all the people, every friend, family member, or acquaintance that made a difference in Earlene’s life? Her family is forever grateful to each of you, although not all were named individually. We appreciate the love, companionship, and care you provided to Earlene in all her years, for whatever chapter or chapters you were a part of. Each of you gave her a good memory and brought a smile to her face.

Earlene was a very resilient woman who dealt with and persevered through a lot of challenges in her life. The loss of her beloved husband, Jack, in 2005, and daughter, Lea Anne, in 2009, wasdevastating. Through the love of her son, Mark, and so many others, she was able to find joy in each day. She persevered through every tough day, loss, and hardship to be the best mother, sister, aunt, friend, grandmother (G-Ma and Gammie, as she was lovingly called by her grandchildren), and mother-in-law. She loved the Lord with all of her heart, and we can find comfort in knowing she is healed and with her loved ones who have gone before her.

Earlene was preceded in death by her parents, Buford and Willie Lee Booth, her sister, India Compton, her husband of 42 years, JackEdsel Dean, and their beautiful daughter, Lea Anne Dean.

Earlene is survived by her beloved son, Mark Joseph Dean and his wife Karen Baugh Dean, her grandchildren Kaitlin Elizabeth Dean, Owen Daniel Mielke, Margaret Laine McKay and fiancé Peyton Elliot Pilgrim, Mark Riley McKay, Taylor Scott Dean, John Alexander Dean, honorary grandchildren Amelia Jo and Jaylee Collinsworth, dear family friends, George & Leeann McMullan, sister Shirley Brown and husband, Paul, special nieces Wanda Thompson & Janice Partain. She is also survived by dear nieces, nephews, great-nieces,and great-nephews and many dear friends.

Earlene’s family would like to thank the staff at Comer Health & Rehabilitation and Affinis Hospice for providing her with the best care available.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in memory of Earlene Booth Dean to :

TJ & Friends Foundation

P.O. Box 6161

Elberton, GA 30635