Jean Routh

Waynesville, Jean Waring Rooney Routh, age 86, of 165 Mann Drive, passed away on Saturday, July 28, 2012 at MedWest Haywood. Jean was a long time resident of Atlanta, Georgia, she had resided in Haywood County since 1987. She was the daughter of the late Charles William and Jean Waring Robson Rooney and was also preceded in death by a brother-in-law, Thomas Campbell Karnes, II, and a nephew, Thomas Campbell Karnes, III. After completing three years at Agnes Scott College, she transferred and received her bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Georgia. Jean worked in Special Services in Germany at the end of WWII. She was a former staff writer for the Atlanta Constitution, The Cincinnati Enquirer, Rocky Mountain News in Denver, and Fawcett Publication of NYC and was a correspondent for the Charlotte Observer, Raleigh's News & Observer, Asheville's Citizen Times, and The Mountaineer in Waynesville. Jean operated JRR/PR, a public relations business in Atlanta from 1980–1988 and also Waynesville from 1989 until her retirement. Jean was a member of The Society of Professional Journalists, member and former board member of the Public Relations Society of America and also a member of the Atlanta Press Club, NC Federation of Press Women, and the Public Relations Association of Western North Carolina. Jean was also an avid international traveler and dog lover. She is survived by her husband, James Edward Routh, III; a son, Edward Houstoun Routh of Atlanta, Georgia; one sister, Dr. Lucia Rooney Karnes, of Winston-Salem; sister-in-law, Elizabeth Trimble, of California; one niece, Eleanore Karnes Pabarue and her husband, James A., of Philadelphia; and two nephews, Timothy R. Karnes of Clemmons and Charles W. Karnes of Chapel Hill. A memorial service will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 11, 2012 at First Presbyterian Church in Waynesville. The family will receive friends from 6:30 until 8:30 p.m. following the service at the residence, 165 Mann Drive in Waynesville. Memorials may be made to Haywood Animal Welfare Association, P.O. Box 992, Waynesville, NC 28786.

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