Jennie Leary Wallin's Obituary
Jennie Leary Wallin, 65, passed away on Tuesday, April 27th, 2021.
Fiercely loyal, loving and caring, Jennie was a remarkable woman. She valued every moment she lived and every life that crossed her path. Jennie had a strong faith. She believed in the power of love and saw goodness and beauty in everything and everyone she encountered. These qualities defined her life’s path. And her contributions left the world a better place.
She was committed to the care, love and support of all living creatures. One of her favorite animals was her beloved horse, Henry. She and Henry participated in many Germantown horse shows and by all accounts, Jennie was a talented equestrian. Years later, during a trip to Sweden, Jennie had the opportunity to revisit her love of horseback riding when she was invited to join her cousin and ride horses bareback on the beach for the day. For Jennie, this memory connected two important countries in her life to her love of riding horses.
For years Jennie cared for homeless cats living in wooded areas across the city, going to great lengths each night to be sure they had food. She rescued many lost and injured dogs, as well, including her dog, Tootsie, who embodied the result of how gentleness and love could heal a broken spirit. Raccoons,rabbits, squirrels and birds - any animal who needed help, would find compassion and care with Jennie.
Jennie had the unique gift of making people feel valued and important. She was a thoughtful, kind, generous, compassionate and loving friend to everyone she met. She took the time to learn their stories, their struggles, their successes and the things of importance in their lives. Jennie had a way of connecting to people that made us all feel like we were the most important people in her life. Marsha Smith, Jennie's oldest friend, described Jennie as a person who "never had a mean thought in her head ...she could always see the bright side". Jennie celebrated everyone and everything and, through her own example, reminded us all of the importance of that celebration.
Jennie was the daughter of Jean and James Leary. She was born in Memphis on August 14, 1955. With her older sister, Joan, Jennie grew up in a close, loving and caring family. Family meant the world to Jennie. And her family was as gracious and welcoming and supportive as Jennie was.
Jennie met her husband, Carl, the love of her life, in 1980 when they both worked for Sunbelt Airlines, a small regional airline. She worked as a station manager and he was a pilot for the airline. She was not an easy catch but he began to win her over when he invited her for a picnic by the red bridge at Memphis Botanic Garden. They were married in a beautiful, traditional Swedish ceremony in Djurshoms Kyrka, Sweden.
They lived in Stockholm for the first year of their marriage. While there, Jennie learned to speak Swedish in the language school at the University of Stockholm. Nils, her father-in-law, enjoyed supporting his new daughter-in-law’s efforts by walking her to school each day. Her mother-in-law was equally encouraging and Jennie greatly valued the love and care they extended to her. Jennie and Carl returned to the U.S. and after a short stay in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, they settled back in Memphis where Jennie began her career in the travel industry.
Jennie’s airline experience and her love of travel led her to her first job as a travel agent at Memphis Travel in the 100 North Main Building in 1986. She stayed there for 8 years and was a successful lead agent for corporate travel. In subsequent years she had similar successes at Mega World Travel and Regency Travel. And along the way, traveled throughout the United States and much of Europe.
In 1999, Jennie left her travel work to pursue a career that reflected her appreciation for the beauty in the world around her. Jennie was a gifted designer and had a rich and creative spirit. Those talents came together when she attended the Shelton-White School of Floral Design in Memphis. Following the completion of that program, she worked in sales and floral design for several years in and around Memphis. And in 2006, Jennie opened her own florist shop, The Flower Company, in Collierville, Tennessee. In her years as a floral designer she lent her talents to large floral installations for organizations and businesses across the city and was especially proud of the work she contributed to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and Rhodes College.
Jennie’s design talents extended into her personal life where she and her husband, Carl, designed their own beautiful home. She took great joy in decorating for the holidays, gathering family and friends for small and large celebrations throughout the year. No one ever left Jennie and Carl’s home feeling hungry. Nor did anyone lack for good conversation and creative entertainment. Going to the Wallin’s home was always a memorable event.
The words written here cannot begin to do Jennie justice. She was a beautiful woman - a wonder to behold, so full of life and love. Jennie’s physical presence in our lives will most certainly be missed, but her beautiful spirit will be with us forever.
Peace be still, Jennie.
Jennie is preceded in death by her parents, Jean and James Leary and her aunt, Joan Rubridge. She is survived by her loving husband, Carl Wallin; beloved sister, Joan Leary Peck (James A.); nephew, James Peck (Danya); great-niece, Lainey Nicole Peck; cousins, Edward Wise and Hall Danon (Cindy), niece, Therese Wallin; brother-in-law, Pehr Wallin; nephew, Palle Osterling (Asa); and 11 cousins in Sweden who are related by marriage.
A memorial service will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 18 at Memorial Park Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery.
Click the link below to view the webcasted service:
https://www.tributeslides.com/tributes/show/4JCMC7MMWT89QH8H
In lieu of flowers, the family requests any donations in honor of Jennie be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, organizations that support or provide care to animals or a charity of the donor’s choosing.
To view the tribute slideshow click the link below:
https://www.tributeslides.com/tributes/show/TRHRGZBC9T7793XB
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