Jean spent her first few years in Hooper and her family moved to Otsego early in her life . She was only ten when her father died unexpectedly , leaving her mother to raise and support their family alone . Her mother soon went to work outside the home to provide for the family , and Jean , being one of the oldest , had to help care for her younger siblings . Although she had much responsibility at home , jean thoroughly enjoyed school and was an excellent student . She went on to graduate 10th in her class at Otsego High School in 1953 .
While still in high school , Jean met a young man named Charles " Chuck " Holly , at a dance in Alamo , and they were quite taken with each other . Over the next few years , their love for each other blossomed and they were married on February 24 , 1953 , while Jean was still in school . At the time , Chuck was serving his country in the military , and had come home on leave to marry his sweetheart . Unfortunately , shortly thereafter , he was sent overseas to serve in Korea for the next fifteen months .
Upon his discharge , the couple settled into married life together in the Plainwell , Otsego area . To help make ends meet , jean went to work at the collection bureau in Kalamazoo for a while , before taking a job at the cheese company in Otsego . In 1964 , Chuck and Jean were overjoyed with the birth of their son , Chuck , who brought great joy into their lives . Jean remembered how her mother was always gone so much working after her father died and she did not want that for her son , so she left her job to devote herself to the role of a mother .