Leza Jeanette “Jan” Hayes Dunkin

Leza Jeanette “Jan” Hayes Dunkin

1938-2024

Jan was born in Sandy Ridge, Virginia on August 18, 1938 to Lonza Lee Hayes and Ruby Alice Kiser; and walked into the arms of Jesus on April 9^th, 2024.

Jan married Virgil Lavon “Boone” Dunkin March 2, 1953 when he was an airman in the United States Air Force. Jan and Boone welcomed son Dayle in 1954 and another son David in 1960. When this marriage ended, Jan married Robert Marvin “Bob” Scott in 1964 and welcomed a son Steve in 1965. During this time, Jan and Bob started taking in foster children.  When this marriage ended, Jan married T Jae Reinier in 1972. One of the foster children was adopted by Jan and T Jae. That’s when Frances Reinier was added as a bonus daughter. Another foster daughter, Linda Kushner was added to the family in 1974. Jan and T Jae then welcomed a son, Christopher “Chip” to the family in 1975.

Jan was a very active mom. She attended all the PTA meetings and was a great supporter of the girl scouts. She was very involved in boy scouts as a den leader. After her children got older, she decided it was time for a change. She graduated cosmetology school and began a hair styling career.

After relocating to Gonzales, Texas, she worked at Shear Designs until she decided to take a career turn that no one was expecting. She announced that she was going to work at the Gonzales County Sheriff’s office as a dispatcher. She then attended the police academy and took a job as a jailer. It wasn’t long until Judge Berger asked her to clerk for him and then, after some experience, to fill the remainder of his term until he retired. She ran and won her own election for Justice of the Peace where she served her constituents in Waelder, TX until her retirement.

After her and T Jae’s marriage ended, she started communicating with Boone Dunkin and over time, their romance was rekindled. She called the Secretary of State’s office with a strange request, and on September 20, 1991, Jan and Boone remarried in a private ceremony at Garner State Park, in Uvalde Texas, where she presided over the ceremony herself, as judge!

Always reinventing herself, she joined her sons Steve and Chip in a petroleum landman career until she stepped away from working altogether to enjoy her “golden years” as she called them. She once said, “for golden years, there sure is a lot of rust”.

Jan, or Nan as she was affectionately known after the birth of her grandchildren, was known for always having a smile, giving the best hugs and her kind words for everyone. Her greatest hope was that God would give her a job in heaven in the nursery rocking the little babies.

Jan was preceded in death by her father and mother, Lonza and Ruby Hayes; her brothers, Jim and Les Hayes; and her loving husband, Boone Dunkin. She is survived by her children: Dayle Dunkin, David (Sharon) Dunkin, Fran Reinier, Linda (Eric) Warshawsky, Steven (Stacy) Scott, Chip (Sarah) Reinier; her grandchildren: Phillip Henkels, Tamara Henkels, Elisha Henkels Polk; Sally (Andy) Bashe; Jenny Whitlatch, Shannon (Steven) Merchant;  Ryder (Caitlin) Reinier, A’Lora Reinier, Kaeden Reinier;  Steven “Bobby” Scott, Jr., Jacob Scott; and great-grandchildren, Evangeline, Bethany, Nathan, Jocelyn, Steven, Brooklyn, Ava, Bentley, Carson and Declan.

There will be a private service at a later date. Donations can be made in remembrance to the Two Rivers Bible Church Benevolence Fund.

Friends may leave their condolences to the family by visiting www.seydlerhillfuneralhome.com

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Seydler-Hill Funeral Home.