Jean (Hockett) Breese

Jean Breese, born Clarice Jean Hockett on January 13, 1944, passed away peacefully in her home April 2, 2022. She was 78.

Born in Watertown, SD, to C.A. and Eleanor Hockett, the family moved to Oregon where she grew up in the Veneta area, Madras and finally Wasco. Jean graduated from Sherman County High School in Moro. Upon graduation she attended college in LaGrande where she obtained an Associates Degree and won the heart of Doug Breese. Doug was the “best thing she got out of economics class.” They were married on December 27, 1964.

Doug and Jean moved to Prineville in 1965 as Doug returned to the family ranch. Jean’s early career began in banking and soon included bookkeeping for a local small business. A short time after establishing their home in Prineville, Doug and Jean started their family with Jere followed by Kara then Vikki. Jean fully embraced her part in the Breese family, including feeding the haying and branding crews, and eventually taking on the administrative duties of Pilot Butte Hereford Ranch.

Jean loved her garden and well-maintained yard. She fed her family for years from her garden and hosted several receptions in her beautiful yard. She particularly enjoyed watching the quail.

Through her kids’ high school and college years, Jean had the house where kids wanted to hang out. From high school lunch breaks to college weekend breaks, Jean welcomed her kids and their friends, adopting many of the friends throughout the years.

After her kids graduated and moved out, Jean worked to become a realtor. She obtained her Broker’s license and enjoyed a very successful real estate career for 30 years. Jean most enjoyed working with first time home buyers. Jean and Vikki spent more than 20 years as partners in their real estate business, including owning their own agency.

Jean was invested in the Prineville community and the people. She spent many years serving on the Crook County School Board, was a 4-H Leader, PEO member and served on the Prineville Chamber of Commerce Board. She also participated in various real estate groups and other community groups.

One of Jean’s talents was sewing. She kept her men-folk well-dressed in western shirts and jeans and entire wardrobes for the girls including prom and wedding dresses. In later years, Jean spent many hours working on projects with her good friends as they shared and learned new quilting techniques and created many projects. In addition to sewing she knitted, crocheted and liked to bake.

Jean loved her family. She loved sharing all of her hobbies with her family – planting and harvesting the garden, quilting projects and many crocheted and knitted dishrags. But she loved her grandkids the best. From attending their sporting events, setting up her Christmas village with them and sharing stories with anyone who would listen, Jean loved the years she had her grandkids.

Jean will be missed. Surviving family includes her husband Doug; daughters Kara (Jason) Snider and Vikki (Bryan) Iverson; grandkids Brianne Breese, Ruby and Grady Snider, Alex and Brit Iverson, Ciera Hensley and Harli Smith; sisters Mary (Bob) Cyphers and Linda (Kenny) Blagg; Kristi Breese and many nieces and nephews. Preceding Jean in death are her parents C.A. & Eleanor Hockett; brother Bill Hockett; and son Jere Breese.

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