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Jimmy was born in 1928. He passed away in 2010.
Jimmy Ray Dean (August 10, 1928 – June 13, 2010) was an American country music singer, television host, actor, and businessman, best known today as the creator of the Jimmy Dean sausage brand as well as its TV commercials' drawling spokesman.
He lived near Richmond, Virginia.
Biography.com- Jimmy Ray Dean [2]
Britannica.com- Jimmie Dean [3]
Name: Jimmy Ray Dean
Birth Date: 10 Aug 1928
Gender: Male
Birth Place: Olton, Lamb, Texas, USA
Father: George Otto Dean
Father Birth Place: Arkansas
Mother: Ruth Taylor
Mother Birth Place: McLennan County, Texas
Mother Residence: Olton Lamb, Texas [5]
Dean was born in Plainview in Hale County in West Texas in 1928, the son of George Otto Dean, and his second wife, the former Ruth Taylor. Ruth Taylor taught Jimmy how to play piano at a young age. He attributed his interest in music to the Seth Ward Baptist Church. He dropped out of high school and became a professional entertainer after serving in the United States Air Force in the late 1940s. Dean was 22 and just starting in show business when he married his first wife Mary Sue (Sue) in 1950." [6]
Name: Jimmy Dean Gender: Male Race: White Marriage Registration Place: Henrico, Virginia, USA Marriage Date: 27 Oct 1991 Marriage Place: Henrico, Virginia, USA Spouse: Donna Louise Meade [7]
Born 10 August 1928 - Olton, Lamb Co., TX Deceased 13 June 2010 - Varina, Henrico Co., VA , age at death: 81 years old Singer, Actor
George Otto Dean, Rev. 1891-1957 Minister
Ruth Taylor 1896-1982
Spouses, children and grandchildren:
Married 11 July 1950 to Mary Sue Wittauer (Parents : M Herbert Joseph Wittauer 1897-1974 & F Carrie D. Householder 1900-1977) , divorced 30 October 1990 with children: M Garry Dean F Connie Dean
F Caroline Taylor M Robert Dean
F Brianna Dean
Siblings: M Don Taylor Dean 1930-1994
Paternal grand-parents, uncles and aunts:
M Jesse Dean 1851- married (1875)
F Avis Young 1857-1943
M Louis F. Dean 1878- ? married
F Rosa E. Dean 1880- ? not married
F Martha Emma Dean 1883- ? not married
F Mary N. Dean 1887- ? not married
M George Otto Dean, Rev. 1891-1957 married (1927) 2 children
F Avis Young 1857-1943
married (1908)M James L. Durham 1846-
Maternal grand-parents, uncles and aunts:
M William Jasper Taylor 1874- married F Lutie Samantha Nix 1876-1982 F Ruth Taylor 1896-1982 married (1927) 2 children
Generation No. 1
1. Jimmy Ray DEAN was born 10 AUG 1928 in Olton, Lamb Co., TX, and died 13 JUN 2010 in Varina, Henrico Co., VA. He was the son of 2. George Otto DEAN and 3. Ruth TAYLOR. He married Mary Sue WITTAUER 11 JUL 1950, daughter of Herbert Joseph WITTAUER and Carrie D. HOUSEHOLDER. He married Living MEADE.
Generation No. 2
2. George Otto DEAN was born 15 APR 1891 in Yell Co., AR, and died 5 OCT 1957 in Lubbock, Lubbock Co., TX. He was the son of 4. Jesse DEAN and 5. Avis YOUNG.
3. Ruth TAYLOR was born 28 SEP 1896 in McLennan Co., TX, and died FEB 1982 in Plainview, Hale Co., TX. She was the daughter of 6. William Jasper TAYLOR and 7. Lutie Samantha NIX.
Children of Ruth TAYLOR and George Otto DEAN are:
1. i. Jimmy Ray DEAN was born 10 AUG 1928 in Olton, Lamb Co., TX, and died 13 JUN 2010 in Varina, Henrico Co., VA. He married Mary Sue WITTAUER 11 JUL 1950, daughter of Herbert Joseph WITTAUER and Carrie D. HOUSEHOLDER. He married Living MEADE.
ii. Don Taylor DEAN was born 8 AUG 1930 in Lamb Co., TX, and died 2 NOV 1994 in Dallas Co., TX.
Generation No. 3
4. Jesse DEAN was born AUG 1851 in Indiana. He was the son of 8. James DEAN and 9. Theodora.
5. Avis YOUNG was born 15 MAY 1857 in Warrick Co., IN, and died 10 SEP 1943 in Jacksboro, Jack Co., TX. She was the daughter of 10. Joseph YOUNG and 11. Ellen MCDONALD.
Children of Avis YOUNG and Jesse DEAN are:
i. Louis F. DEAN was born SEP 1878 in Warrick Co., IN. ii. Rosa E. DEAN was born NOV 1880 in Warrick Co., IN. iii. Martha Emma DEAN was born JUL 1883 in Yell Co., AR.
iv. Mary N. DEAN was born MAY 1887 in Yell Co., AR.
2. v. George Otto DEAN was born 15 APR 1891 in Yell Co., AR, and died 5 OCT 1957 in Lubbock, Lubbock Co., TX. He married Ruth TAYLOR ABT 1927, daughter of William Jasper TAYLOR and Lutie Samantha NIX. She was born 28 SEP 1896 in McLennan Co., TX, and died FEB 1982 in Plainview, Hale Co., TX.
6. William Jasper TAYLOR was born 10 NOV 1874 in McLennan Co., TX. He was the son of 12. James W. TAYLOR and 13. Columbia Ann INGRAM.
7. Lutie Samantha NIX was born 22 SEP 1876 in Texas, and died FEB 1982 in Hale Co., TX.
Child of Lutie Samantha NIX and William Jasper TAYLOR is:
3. i. Ruth TAYLOR was born 28 SEP 1896 in McLennan Co., TX, and died FEB 1982 in Plainview, Hale Co., TX. She married George Otto DEAN ABT 1927, son of Jesse DEAN and Avis YOUNG. He was born 15 APR 1891 in Yell Co., AR, and died 5 OCT 1957 in Lubbock, Lubbock Co., TX.
Generation No. 4
8. James DEAN was born in England. 9. Theodora was born in England.
Child of Theodora and James DEAN is:
4. i. Jesse DEAN was born AUG 1851 in Indiana. He married Avis YOUNG ABT 1875 in Warrick Co., IN, daughter of Joseph YOUNG and Ellen MCDONALD. She was born 15 MAY 1857 in Warrick Co., IN, and died 10 SEP 1943 in Jacksboro, Jack Co., TX.
10. Joseph YOUNG was born 18 DEC 1824 in England, and died 15 FEB 1902 in Yell Co., AR.
11. Ellen MCDONALD was born 1 DEC 1831 in Indiana, and died 1 JUL 1919 in Yell Co., AR. She was the daughter of 22. Joseph B. MCDONALD and 23. Ellenor JOHNSON.
Children of Ellen MCDONALD and Joseph YOUNG are:
i. Martha J. YOUNG was born ABT 1855 in Warrick Co., IN.
5. ii. Avis YOUNG was born 15 MAY 1857 in Warrick Co., IN, and died 10 SEP 1943 in Jacksboro, Jack Co., TX. She married Jesse DEAN ABT 1875 in Warrick Co., IN, son of James DEAN and Theodora. He was born AUG 1851 in Indiana. She married James L. DURHAM ABT 1908 in Arkansas, son of James Singleton DURHAM and Cynthia Janette HAMES. He was born 7 NOV 1846 in Union Co., SC.
12. James W. TAYLOR was born 1852 in Texas, and died 1934 in Texas. He was the son of 24. Nehemiah Harvey TAYLOR and 25. Susan STOKELY.
13. Columbia Ann INGRAM was born BET 1851 AND 1853 in Smith Co., TX, and died in Hale Co., TX. She was the daughter of 26. William Jasper INGRAM.
Child of Columbia Ann INGRAM and James W. TAYLOR is:
6. i. William Jasper TAYLOR was born 10 NOV 1874 in McLennan Co., TX. He married Lutie Samantha NIX. She was born 22 SEP 1876 in Texas, and died FEB 1982 in Hale Co., TX.
Generation No. 5
22. Joseph B. MCDONALD was born ABT 1765 in Georgia, and died in Indiana.
23. Ellenor JOHNSON was born 1795, and died in Warrick Co., IN.
Child of Ellenor JOHNSON and Joseph B. MCDONALD is:
11. i. Ellen MCDONALD was born 1 DEC 1831 in Indiana, and died 1 JUL 1919 in Yell Co., AR. She married James Nelson WINGATE , Jr. 14 MAR 1849 in Warrick Co., IN, son of James Nelson WINGATE and Susannah RENARD. He was born ABT 1828 in Indiana, and died 1853 in Warrick Co., IN. She married Joseph YOUNG 15 FEB 1854 in Warrick Co., IN. He was born 18 DEC 1824 in England, and died 15 FEB 1902 in Yell Co., AR.
24. Nehemiah Harvey TAYLOR was born 1827 in Mississippi, and died 29 NOV 1877 in Pope Co., AR. He was the son of 48. Thomas Billington TAYLOR , Jr. and 49. Olivia BREWER.
25. Susan STOKELY was born 2 APR 1831 in Missouri, and died 16 APR 1907 in Upshur Co., TX. She was the daughter of 50. Thomas W. STOKELY and 51. Mary Ann AXLEY.
Child of Susan STOKELY and Nehemiah Harvey TAYLOR is:
12. i. James W. TAYLOR was born 1852 in Texas, and died 1934 in Texas. He married Columbia Ann INGRAM, daughter of William Jasper INGRAM. She was born BET 1851 AND 1853 in Smith Co., TX, and died in Hale Co., TX.
26. William Jasper INGRAM was born BET 1791 AND 1799, and died in Smith Co., TX. He was the son of 52. Samuel INGRAM , Jr. and 53. Elizabeth MCDONALD.
Child of William Jasper INGRAM is:
13. i. Columbia Ann INGRAM was born BET 1851 AND 1853 in Smith Co., TX, and died in Hale Co., TX. She married James W. TAYLOR, son of Nehemiah Harvey TAYLOR and Susan STOKELY. He was born 1852 in Texas, and died 1934 in Texas.
Generation No. 6
48. Thomas Billington TAYLOR , Jr. was born 1778 in Georgia, and died 1858 in Milam Co., TX. He was the son of 96. Thomas Billington TAYLOR.
49. Olivia BREWER was born 1799 in Georgia, and died 1835 in Mississippi. She was the daughter of 98. George BREWER and 99. Hannah THOMPSON.
Child of Olivia BREWER and Thomas Billington TAYLOR , Jr. is:
24. i. Nehemiah Harvey TAYLOR was born 1827 in Mississippi, and died 29 NOV 1877 in Pope Co., AR. He married Susan STOKELY ABT 1851, daughter of Thomas W. STOKELY and Mary Ann AXLEY. She was born 2 APR 1831 in Missouri, and died 16 APR 1907 in Upshur Co., TX. 50. Thomas W. STOKELY was born 26 JUL 1789 in Warren Co., NC, and died 21 APR 1836. He was the son of 100. John STOKELY and 101. Nancy O'NEAL. 51. Mary Ann AXLEY.
Child of Mary Ann AXLEY and Thomas W. STOKELY is:
25. i. Susan STOKELY was born 2 APR 1831 in Missouri, and died 16 APR 1907 in Upshur Co., TX. She married Nehemiah Harvey TAYLOR ABT 1851, son of Thomas Billington TAYLOR , Jr. and Olivia BREWER. He was born 1827 in Mississippi, and died 29 NOV 1877 in Pope Co., AR. 52. Samuel INGRAM , Jr. was born BET 1764 AND 1768 in Montgomery Co., VA, and died BEF 1806 in Wayne Co., KY. He was the son of 104. Samuel INGRAM and 105. Anne STEWART. 53. Elizabeth MCDONALD was born 1768, and died 7 FEB 1871. She was the daughter of 106. Joseph MCDONALD and 107. Elizabeth OGLE.
Child of Elizabeth MCDONALD and Samuel INGRAM , Jr. is:
26. i. William Jasper INGRAM was born BET 1791 AND 1799, and died in Smith Co., TX.
(See Photo )
Jesse Dean [son of James Dean and Theadocia ?] born: August 1851 - Indiana died: 1860 Census - Vanderburgh County, Indiana [Jesse Dean, age 8] 1880 Census - Warrick County, Indiana [Jessey Dean, Head, age 28] 1900 Census - Yell County, Arkansas [Jesse Dean, Head, Aug. 1851, farmer] married: wife: Avis Young [daughter of Joseph Young and Eleanor McDonald] born: 15 May 1857 - Warrick County, Indiana died: 10 September 1943 - Chickalah, Yell County, Arkansas [Her 2nd husband was Rev. James L. Durham] 1880 Census - Warrick County, Indiana [Avis Dean, wife, age 23] 1900 Census - Yell County, Arkansas [Avis Dean, Wife, May 1857] 1910 Census - Yell County, Arkansas [Avis Durham, wife, age 52, married twice, wife of James L. Durham] 1920 Census - Yell County, Arkansas [Avis Durham, head, age 62, married to James L. Durham] 1830 Census -
Children of Jesse Dean and Avis ? Dean:
1. Lewis F. Dean born: 18 September 1878 - Indiana died: 12 December 1916 buried: New Hope Cemetery - Yell County, Arkansas 1880 Census - Warrick County, Indiana [Lous F. Dean, son, age 1] 1900 Census - Yell County, Arkansas [Louis F. Dean, son, Sept. 1878] 1910 Census - Yell County, Arkansas [Louis F. Dean, head, age 31] married: c1904 wife: Ethel C. ? born: c1887 - Arkansas 1910 Census - Yell County, Arkansas [Ethel C. Dean, wife, age 23]
2. Rosa Ellen Dean born: 20 November 1880 - Indiana died: 21 October 1952 - Hammon, Roger Mills County, Oklahoma buried: New Hope Cemetery - Yell County, Arkansas Obituary 1900 Census - Yell County, Arkansas [Rosa E. Dean, daughter, Nov. 1880] 1910 Census - Yell County, Arkansas [Rose E. Gray, wife, age 27] 1920 Census - Yell County, Arkansas [Rosa Gray, wife, age 39] 1930 Census - husband: David Franklin Gray [son of Andrew Jackson Gray, Sr. and Mary P. Atkins] [his 1st wife was Edna Piercy] born: 17 January 1880 - Arkansas died: 7 March 1930 - buried: New Hope Cemetery - Yell County, Arkansas 1910 Census - Yell County, Arkansas [David F. Gray, head, married twice, age 30] 1920 Census - Yell County, Arkansas [Dave Gray, head, age 39]
Children of Rosa Ellen Dean Gray and David Franklin Gray:
2.1. Esther Gray born: 1909 - Arkansas 1910 Census - Yell County, Arkansas [Esther Gray, daughter, age 1 6/12] 1920 Census - Yell County, Arkansas [Esther Gray, daughter, age 11] husband: ? Carter
2.2. Elsie Gray born: c1911 - Arkansas 1920 Census - Yell County, Arkansas [Elie Gray, daughter, age 9] husband: ? Carter
2.3. Frank Gray born: c1916 - Arkansas 1920 Census - Yell County, Arkansas [Frank Gray, son, age 4]
2.4. Wortham Gray born: c1920 - Arkansas 1920 Census - Yell County, Arkansas [Wortham Gray, son, age 5/12]
2.5. Everett Gray
2.6. Earl Gray
3. Martha Emma Dean
born: July 1883 - Arkansas
died:
1900 Census - Yell County, Arkansas [Martha E. Dean, daughter, July 1883]
1910 Census - Yell County, Arkansas [Emma Dean, step-daughter, age 26]
1920 Census - Yell County, Arkansas [Emma Dean, daughter, age 35]
4. Mary Naomi Dean born: May 1887 - Arkansas died: 1900 Census - Yell County, Arkansas [Mary N. Dean, daughter, May 1887] husband: ? McCorkle
5. George Otto Dean Cumberland Presbyterian Minister born: April 1891 - Chickalah, Yell County, Arkansas died: 5 October 1957 - Lubbock, Lubbock County, Texas buried: Resthaven Cemetery - Lubbock, Lubbock County, Texas 1900 Census - Yell County, Arkansas [George O. Dean, son, age 9] 1910 Census - Yell County, Arkansas [Otto Dean, step-son, age 19] 1920 Census - Hughes County, Oklahoma [Otto Dean, head, age 29] 1930 Census - Lamb County, Texas 1st marriage: c1914 - 1st wife: Dora Holt [daughter of William S. Holt and Eliza R. ?] born: c1892 - Arkansas died: 1920 Census - Hughes County, Oklahoma [wife, age 28]
Children of George Otto Dean and Dora ? Dean:
5.1. Mark Allen Dean born: c1914 - Arkansas 1920 Census - Hughes County, Oklahoma [son, age 6]
5.2. Jessie May Dean born: c1917 - Arkansas 1920 Census - Hughes County, Oklahoma [daughter, age 3]
5.3. William M. Dean born: c1918 - Arkansas 1920 Census - Hughes County, Oklahoma [son, age 2] 1930 Census - Lamb County, Texas [son, age 12]
5.4. Chester T. Dean born: 14 October 1923 - Oklahoma died: 10 November 2000 - Lubbock, Lubbock County, Texas buried: Resthaven Memorial Park - Lubbock, Lubbock County, Texas Obituary 1930 Census - Lamb County, Texas [son, age 6] married: 2 November 1947 - Dardanelle, Yell County, Arkansas wife: Ruthie Dell Parks [daughter of William Parks and Carmon Phillips]
Children of Chester T. Dean and Ruthie Dell Parks Dean:
5.4.1. Charles Lee Dean
5.4.2. Juanita Mae Dean husband: ? Ashmore
5.4.3. Thomas Ray Dean
5.4.4. Patricia Ann Dean husband: ? Roark
5.4.5. Clarence Edward Dean born: 3 January 1962 died: 1962
5.5. Lester Dean born: 14 October 1923 - Oklahoma died: young
2nd marriage of George Otto Dean: c1924 -
2nd wife of George Otto Dean: Ruth Taylor
[daughter of William Jasper Taylor and Lutie Samantha Nix]
born: 28 September 1896 - Hamilton or McLellan County, Texas
died: February 1982 - Plainview, Hale County, Texas
buried:
1930 Census - Lamb County, Texas [wife]
Children of George Otto Dean and Ruth Taylor Dean:
born: 10 August 1928 - Plainview, Hale County, Texas 1930 Census - Lamb County, Texas [George O. Dean, Jr., age 1 3/12, son]
1st wife: Sue Wittauer [daughter of ? Wittauer and ? ?] born:
Children of Jimmy Ray Dean and Sue Wittauer Dean:
5.4.1. Gary Dean
5.4.2. Connie Dean
5.4.3. Robert Dean
2nd wife of Jimmy Ray Dean: Donna Meade [daughter of ? Meade and ? ?] born:
5.5. Don Taylor Dean
born: 3 August 1930 - Lamb County, Texas
died: 2 November 1994 - Irving, Dallas County, Texas
Obituaries Services for Mrs. Rosa Ellen Gray, 71 years, were held in the Gum Springs Cumberland Presbyterian church near Dardenelle, Arkansas, on Thursday, October 23, 1952 with Rev. John Bingaman, officiating. Mrs. Gray died at her home in Hammon, Oklahoma October 21, 1952 after several months illness. A native of Indiana, Mrs. Gray had lived in Hammon the past 11 years. She was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. Survivors are two daughters, Mrs. Esther Carter, Chickalah, Arkansas, and Mrs. Elsie Carter, Hammon; three sons Frank Gray, Lubbock; Everett Gray, Welch, Texas, and Earl Gray, Hammon; a sister, Mrs. Naomi McCorkle, Nimrods, Texas; a brother, G.L. Dean, Lubbock, and eight grandchildren. Burial was in the New Hope cemetery with Martin-Hullum, Elk City in charge. Hammon Advocate, Hammon, OK 30-Oct-1952
Chester Dean Services for Chester T. Dean, 77, of Lubbock will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at Cumberland Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Pat Driskill officiating. Burial will be in Resthaven Memorial Park under the direction of Resthaven Funeral Home. He died Friday, Nov. 10, 2000, at his residence. He was born Oct. 14, 1923, in Oklahoma and was raised in the Olton and Plainview area. He was an absentee graduate of Dardanelle, Ark., High School due to entering the U.S. Army in 1941. He served in the infantry and received the purple heart as well as other honors. He married Ruthie Parks on Nov. 2, 1947, in Dardanelle. He served in civil service at Reese Air Force Base until his retirement. Following his retirement he owned and operated a lawn care service. He had been a resident of Lubbock since moving from Dardanelle in 1954 and was a member of Cumberland Presbyterian Church. A son, Clarence Edward Dean, died in 1962. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Charles of White Oak and Thomas of Lubbock; two daughters, Nita Ashmore of Midland and Tricia Roark of Lubbock; a brother, Jimmy; 10 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. The family suggests memorials to Cumberland Presbyterian Church. [12]
" He became a national television personality starting on CBS in 1957. He rose to fame for his 1961 country music crossover hit into rock and roll with "Big Bad John" and his 1963 television series The Jimmy Dean Show, which gave puppeteer Jim Henson his first national media exposure.
His acting career included appearing in the early seasons in the Daniel Boone TV series as the sidekick of famous frontiersman played by star Fess Parker. Later he was on the big screen in a surprising supporting role as billionaire Willard Whyte (based on billionaire Howard Hughes) in the James Bond movie Diamonds Are Forever (1971).
He was nominated for the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2010, although he was inducted posthumously at age 81. " [14]
"Thirty Years of Sausage, Fifty Years of Ham: Jimmy Dean’s Own Story", Jimmy Dean and Donna Meade Dean (Berkley Hardcover, 2004)
"Sausage is a great deal like life, you get out of it what you put into it" - Jimmy Dean
One day, Jimmy Dean was having sausage and eggs. He was sitting in a local diner in his hometown of Plainview, Texas. Jimmy always loved sausage, this morning, he bit into a piece of gristle about the size of Texas. He turned to his brother Don and said, “You know, there has got to be room in this country for a good quality sausage!” As they say, " The rest is history"!
Jimmy Dean, The Country Singer, TV Show Host and Actor, went on to build America’s favorite sausage company, in the middle of his entertainment career being at "full tilt"!
When asked why he started a sausage company, Jimmy would often say, " If you had ever seen my act, you would've realized that diversification was imperative.”
The real reason is that Jimmy went back to his roots. Jimmy grew up on a farm in Texas, making his own fresh sausage with his grandfather.
Jimmy absolutely loved the sights, smells, and sounds of Country Mornings. He would often say that he was " The biggest morning person who ever walked the Earth, in cowboy boots, at least.
In 1969, he founded the Jimmy Dean Sausage Company. He was committed to quality. He became the plainspoken sausage spokesman. He appeared in hundreds of his own commercials. His big ol’ grinning face and delightfully charming Southern way about sausage… and life… and mornings… and sausage again, was to be seen every where!
JimmyDean.com- Jimmy Dean Sausage
210 Spring Valley Rd, Dallas, TX, 75244
Address: 8000 Centerview Pkwy # Py400, Cordova, TN, 38018-4227
274 Woodland St, Tenafly, NJ, 07670-2327
126 Barbara Rd, Dumont, NJ, 07628-1403
Phone Number: 567-3395
Address: 1160 River Bend Rd, Richmond, VA, 23231-8047
"RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Jimmy Dean, a country music legend for his smash hit about a workingman hero, "Big Bad John," and an entrepreneur known for his sausage brand, died on Sunday. He was 81.
His wife, Donna Meade Dean, said her husband died at their Henrico County, Va., home.
She told The Associated Press that he had some health problems but was still functioning well, so his death came as a shock. She said he was eating in front of the television. She left the room for a time and came back and he was unresponsive. She said he was pronounced dead at 7:54 p.m.
"He was amazing," she said. "He had a lot of talents."
Born in 1928, Dean was raised in poverty in Plainview, Texas, and dropped out of high school after the ninth grade. He went on to a successful entertainment career in the 1950s and '60s that included the nationally televised "The Jimmy Dean Show."
In 1969, Dean went into the sausage business, starting the Jimmy Dean Meat Co. in his hometown. He sold the company to Sara Lee Corp. in 1984.
Dean lived in semiretirement with his wife, who is a songwriter and recording artist, on their 200-acre estate just outside Richmond, where he enjoyed investing, boating and watching the sun set over the James River.
In 2009 a fire gutted their home, but his Grammy for "Big Bad John," a puppet made by Muppets creator Jim Henson, a clock that had belonged to Prince Charles and Princess Diana and other valuables were saved. Lost were a collection of celebrity-autographed books, posters of Dean with Elvis Presley and other prized possessions.
Donna Meade Dean said the couple had just moved back into their reconstructed home.
With his drawled wisecracks and quick wit, Dean charmed many fans. But in both entertainment and business circles, he was also known for his tough hide. He fired bandmate Roy Clark, who went onto "Hee Haw" fame, for showing up late for gigs.
More recently, a sc rap with Sara Lee led to national headlines.
The Chicago-based company let him go as spokesman in 2003, inciting Dean's wrath. He issued a statement titled "Somebody doesn't like Sara Lee," claiming he was dumped because he got old.
"The company told me that they were trying to attract the younger housewife, and they didn't think I was the one to do that," Dean told The Associated Press in January 2004. "I think it's the dumbest thing. But you know, what do I know?"
Sara Lee has said that it chose not to renew Dean's contract because the "brand was going in a new direction" that demanded a shift in marketing.
Dean grew up in a musical household. His mother showed him how to play his first chord on the piano. His father, who left the family, was a songwriter and singer. Dean taught himself to play the accordion and the harmonica.
His start in the music business came as an accordionist at a tavern near Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C., wh ere he was stationed in the 1940s. After leaving the Air Force in 1948, he fronted his band, the Texas Wildcats, and drew a strong local following through appearances on Washington-area radio.
By the early 1950s, Dean's band had its first national hit in "Bummin' Around."
"Big Bad John," which is about a coal miner who saves fellow workers when a mine roof collapses, became a big hit in 1961 and won a Grammy. The star wrote it in less than two hours.
His fame led him to a string of television shows, including "The Jimmy Dean Show" on CBS. Dean's last big TV stint was ABC's version of "The Jimmy Dean Show" from 1963 to 1966.
Dean in February was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame. He was to be inducted in October and his wife said she thinks he was looking forward to it.
Dean became a headliner at venues like Carnegie Hall and the Hollywood Bowl and became the first country star to play on the Las Vegas strip. He was the first guest host on "The Tonight Show," and also was an actor with parts in television and the movies, including the role of James Bond's ally Willard Whyte in the 1971 film "Diamonds Are Forever."
Besides his wife, Dean is survived by three children and two grandchildren, Donna Meade Dean said. Arrangements have not be made, but it will be a private service, she said.
In the late '60s, Dean entered the hog business - something he knew well. His family had butchered hogs, with the young Dean whacking them over the head with the blunt end of an ax. The Dean brothers - Jimmy and Don - ground the meat and their mother seasoned it.
The Jimmy Dean Meat Co. opened with a plant in Plainview. After six months, the company was profitable.
His fortune was estimated at $75 million in the early '90s.
Having watched other stars fritter away their fortunes, Dean said he learned to be careful with his money.
"I've seen so many people in this business that made a fortune," h e told the AP. "They get old and broke and can't make any money. ... I tell you something, ... no one's going to play a benefit for Jimmy Dean."
Dean said then that he was at peace at his estate and that he had picked a spot near the river where he wanted to be buried.
"It's the sweetest piece of property in the world, we think," he told the Richmond Times-Dispatch. "It sure is peaceful here."
© 2010 The Associated Press" [24]
Name: Jimmy Dean
Gender: Male
Birth Place: Plainview, Hale, Texas, USA
Death Date: Abt 2010
Obituary Date: 15 Jun 2010
Newspaper Title: Philadelphia Daily News
Location: Philadelphia, PA, USA
Spouse: Donna Meade Dean [25]
Name: Jimmy Dean
Gender: Male
Birth Place: Plainview, Hale, Texas, USA
Death Place: Richmond, Wise, Virginia, USA
Obituary Date: 14 Jun 2010
Newspaper Title: Detroit News
Newspaper Place: Detroit, Michigan, USA
Spouse: Donna Meade Dean Source Citation Newspaper: Detroit News; Publication Date: 06/ 14/ 2010; Publication Place: Detroit, Michigan, USA; Web edition: [1]
Name: Jimmy Dean
Age at Death: 81
Birth Date: Abt 1929
Death Date: abt 2010
Death Place: Henrico County VA
Publication Date: 14 Jun 2010
Publication Place: United States [26]
Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010
Name: Jimmy Dean
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 10 Aug 1928
Death Date: 13 Jun 2010 [27]
Name: Jimmy R Dean
Gender: Male
Race: White
Death Age: 81
Birth Date: abt 1929
Death Date: 13 Jun 2010
Death Place: Henrico, Virginia, USA [28]
Jimmy Dean
BIRTH: 10 Aug 1928, Olton, Lamb County, Texas, USA
Parents:
George Otto Dean 1891–1957
Ruth Taylor Dean 1896–1982
Siblings:
Don Taylor Dean 1930–1994
Half Siblings:
David Lee Dean 1920–1941
Chester Thomas Dean 1923–2000
DEATH: 13 Jun 2010 (aged 81), Varina, Henrico County, Virginia, USA
BURIAL: Dean Family Estate Varina, Henrico County, Virginia, USA
PLOT: 9ft piano-shaped mausoleum overlooking the James River
MEMORIAL ID: 53658263 [29]
Thank You Kenneth Wise (born Aug 10th, 38 years after Jimmy Dean's birth day) for the extensive research, hours of time and many additions & improvements on the profile of Jimmy Dean.
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