Mary Jean Greif

Mary Jean Greif, age 83, of Payette, Idaho passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 after suffering a stroke. A Celebration of Life service will be at 11:00 AM Saturday, May 11, 2024 at Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel. Condolences may be made to Mary’s family at shafferjensen.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, Payette, Idaho. Following the service, friends and family are all welcome to enjoy lunch and fellowship at the Portia Club in Payette. Mary was born on November 28, 1940 in Boise, ID to Irvin Charles Greif and Alma Mae (Matthews) Greif, the third of twelve children and first daughter. Mary was raised in Payette, ID and graduated in 1959 from Payette High School. Her senior saying was “Meet trials with a smile and they vanish.” In 1959 she was honored to be in the Payette Blossom Festival Court, and was 2nd runner up for Miss Payette County. During high school she loved using her artistic talent, decorating for dances, and was very involved in music, playing the clarinet all four years in the band, marching band and pep band. Most of all. she loved playing the piano. In high school she was featured in her own piano recital, playing many classics by Debussy, Bach, Mozart and more. It stated in her yearbook that “She needs the piano air-cooled.” After graduating, she attended Boise Junior College for a semester, worked at the Ontario Quick-freeze for a year, then attended Link’s School of Business in Boise for a year. She then returned to her family home in Payette and worked as a sales clerk for three years at her family’s business, Greif’s Music Center. In 1966, she married Robert Eakin and had three children, Douglas, Len and Teresa. She was a devoted, loving wife and mother with a caring, gentle, and kind heart. She filled her home with music, often playing songs of worship on her piano. She loved her family and had many close friends. Mary was known for her great memory of everyone’s birthdays and always sent greeting cards. In 1983, she wrote a letter to enter her mom in an essay contest for “Mother of the Year”, which she won, honoring her beloved mother Alma Greif. Mary’s greatest love was for her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Her most quoted Bible verse was Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Her first outing as a baby was to church at 3 weeks old and she faithfully attended church her whole life. She was a member of the Payette Tabernacle Church where she played the piano during worship. She loved attending church camps and it was always the highlight of her year. On August 9, 1986 she was baptized at Sharon Pacific Coast Camp in Turner, Oregon. One of her final prayers exemplified her heart, with her hands lifted high, “Please give me peace, peace for Your will. I give you all the glory. I pray Your will be done God. It’s the end of a beautiful day. In Jesus name I pray. Amen, Amen.” Mary was preceded in death by her father Irvin Greif, mother Alma Greif, brothers David and Sidney, sisters in-law Judy Greif and Virginia Greif, and granddaughters Faith and Hope Eakin. She is survived by siblings: Sarah (Don) Olson of Payette, Idaho, John (Sue) Greif of Payette, Idaho, Ruth (Randy) Smith of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Joe Greif of Hagerman, Idaho, Esther (Dave) Ball of Fruitland, Idaho, Martha Greif of Payette, Idaho, Midge (Dave) Levson of Calgary, Alberta, Dan (Jenna) Greif of San Diego, California and Mike (Gwen) Greif of Payette, Idaho, children: Douglas (Carol) Eakin of Caldwell, Idaho, Len Eakin of Payette, Idaho and Teresa (Brian) Donivan of Ridgway, Colorado, grandchildren: Kelli Donivan of Ridgway, Colorado and Timberlee Eakin of Fruitland, Idaho, as well as numerous cousins, nephews, nieces, great-nephews and great-nieces. Mary is greatly loved and she will be very missed, but we find comfort in our assurance that she is now resting peacefully in her Savior’s arms and we will see her again. “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die.” John 11:25-26