Kirby Pines Retirement Community | The Pinecone

Salk vaccine. Jean praises her parents for their care and devotion and their efforts to maintain a normal life for the family. However, Jean says, “I think the isolation we experienced shaped my personality.” While in high school, Jean continued her piano studies as well as learning to play the oboe, clarinet, saxophone, violin and viola. She also served as a student conductor and prepared the orchestra with “warm-ups.” She graduated as Salutatorian in 1964 and entered Harding College, graduating in 1968 with a BA in English. While at Harding, she was part of an elite singing group, the “Belles and Beaux.” In her freshman year, Jean had become aware of Andy Saunders when he performed in “Camelot.” When Jean and Andy married, they made the decision to move to Memphis and they have remained here except for Andy’s military time. Andy enrolled in graduate school at Memphis State University (now U of M), majoring in Communications and graduating in 1969. Jean was secretary to the Chairman of the Psychology Department. During this time, they rented an inexpensive apartment in South Memphis. Little did they realize they were in a “flight path” of the airport. Following graduation, Andy was drafted and inducted into the Army. Rather than to a missile battalion, he was sent to Heidelberg, Germany, to be in the 7th Army Soldiers Chorus. “This was a wonderful job. We sang for all the parties and celebrations in Germany,” says Andy. He also worked as a MEDCOM Examiner for six months. Their son, Jonathan, was born during this time. Jean and Jonathan returned to the states while Andy remained in Germany to complete his “stint” in the Army. Returning to Memphis, Andy was hired at Memphis University School, retiring after thirty-eight years in 2010. There, he had coached football, taught a variety of academic subjects and helped design and or direct numerous plays which were “his passion.” Jean has had many varied jobs in her life, impressive in their association with scholarly efforts. She continues to work as Manager of Advancement Services at MUS. She also continues to collate for publication all the manuscripts of her uncle, Dr. Jack P. Lewis, who was a recognized scholar in Old Testament and Biblical Archeology. Jean has also held many responsible volunteer jobs at White Station Church of Christ and has made over 100 baby blankets for NICU during COVID. Jean and Andy Saunders moved to Kirby Pines in 2019. Andy has fulfilled many roles as a resident, participating in all entertainment and worship venues. Two of Jean’s passions are playing Mahjongg and writing. The talents and accomplishment of both Saunders are truly an asset to the Kirby Pines family. Written by Joan Dodson, Kirby Pines Resident The Pinecone | January 2022 • 7 • As a couple, Jean and Andy Saunders represent an array of artistic excellence. Andy has experiences in theatre and communication outlets while Jean’s forte is her mastery of the English language, creative writing skills and music. These talents are threaded throughout their lives as they have acquired the skills necessary for life. Andrew Saunders was born in Dorena, Missouri, in 1945. He was the first born with two brothers and a sister to follow. To find better job opportunities, the family moved to Huntington Park, a suburb of Los Angeles where the family lived in a trailer for several years. According to Andy, the most exciting thing in his elementary school was dancing the Hokey-Pokey which the entire school did during recess. When Andy was in the fourth grade, the family relocated to a suburb close to Disneyland only to return again to Huntington Park. Here, Andy entered high school and was involved in many activities including the football team. However, he focused mostly on participating in singing groups and theatre. Following graduation from high school in 1963, Andy enrolled on an academic scholarship at Harding College, Searcy, Arkansas. He declared a major in Speech with minors in Chemistry and Biology, and he played football. After the first year, he dropped football to pursue his primary interests in music and theatre. It was in the chorus that Andy first noticed another member, Jean Lewis. They became a couple while on a chorus tour of the South. Andy was a year ahead of Jean in school, but following his graduation, the courtship continued as Andy was hired by Harding to be Technical Director of the theatre. In June of 1968, Jean and Andy were married following her graduation. Linda Jean Lewis was born June 11, 1946, in Dallas, Texas. The family soon moved to Shreveport, Louisiana. This would be Jean’s family home until her marriage. She had one older sister who, at the age of nine, contracted polio in the epidemic of 1952 and was paralyzed from the neck down. This event changed the family dynamics forever. According to Jean, “We practiced ‘social distancing’ as no one wanted to be near us. My parents went daily to the hospital to visit my sister Ann. After many months, Ann was able to come home. However, it was necessary for her to remain in an iron lung until her death thirty years later. Our lives revolved around caring for her.” At age eight, Jean became a “polio pioneer” after being recruited to take the experimental A N A R T I S T I C B L E ND Resident Spotlight: ANDY & JEAN SAUNDERS The Saunders in the 70's