Jean Hager

RANCHO VIEJO, TX. - Margaret Jean Ketchum Hager was born on May 13, 1929 in Memphis, Tennessee, daughter of the late Odessa and Hugh Ketchum. The family had homes on Ketchum Avenue which was named for the family. Jean graduated from Whitehaven High School. She gave her Senior Piano Recital at the De Sharon College of Music in Memphis. Jean attended Memphis State University where she was a member of Delta Zeta Sorority. In 1950, she married Walter Richard "Dick" Hager. He died in 2011. Jean died on Monday, the 11th of May 2026, in the comfort of her Rancho Viejo residence, two days shy of her 97th birthday.

When her three children were in school, she returned to college. She earned a B.S. in Elementary Education and a M. Ed. in Guidance and Counseling at North Texas State University and a M. Ed. in Special Education at the University of Maryland in College Park.

Jean taught in the elementary schools in Dallas, Texas and in Fairfax Country, Virginia. She served as a supervisor of the learning disabilities program in Fairfax County and retired in 1984 from the Fairfax Country Schools as Coordinator of Special Education programs. She taught as an Adjunct Professor for the University of Virginia for several years.

When Jean and Dick retired, they divided their time between their home in Rancho Viejo, Texas and their home in Massanutten, Virginia. They enjoyed traveling to many places in the world and the United States. In Rancho Viejo, Jean served as Editor of the Rancho Viejo Reporter for 15 years. She was an Alderwoman for four years and the first woman Mayor of Rancho Viejo, serving for two years. She was President of the Rancho Viejo Garden Club. Jean was Table Director of the Brownsville II Pan American Round Table and the State Director of the Pan American Round Tables of Texas. She was a member of P.E.O. Chapter BU and served as their president. She was a member of the Church of the Advent, Episcopal of Brownsville.

Preceding her in death are her husband, Dick Hager; her parents; her son, Richard Hugh Hager (Virginia); granddaughter, Aleesha Hager; and brother, Charles L. Ketchum.

Surviving Jean are her daughters, Barbara L. Hager of Little Rock, Arkansas and Katherine H. Mann (Gary) of Selbyville, Delaware. Also surviving are her grandchildren, Matthew Hager (Myra), Libby Conn (Greg), Daniel Hager (Suzanne), Tim Hager (Jennifer), Dasha Hager, Melanie Berman, David Berman, Allison Sick (Matthew), Christina Trumbull (Michael), and Steven Mann; and her great-grandchildren, Maxwell Walter Hager, Milo Richard Hager, Michael Yoshi Hager, Emily Ellen Conn, Garrett Allen Conn, Joseph Daniel Hager, Teresa Marie Hager, Jocelyn Kay Hager, McKinley Joann Hager, Skylar Quinn Hager, Ava Jean Sick, Sophia Katherine Sick, Lucy Jacqueline Trumbull, Emery Ruth Trumbull.

In accordance with her final wishes, cremation will occur and there will be no memorial services. Family and friends will be invited to gather for a private celebration of her life to be held at a later date.

In lieu of floral arrangements and customary remembrances, those who would like to make a contribution in her memory may contribute to a charity of their choice.

Memories of Jean may be shared at www.darlingmouser.com.

Personalized funeral arrangements directed by Steven R. Hieu Bailey, CFSP and Staff have been entrusted to the care of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home at 945 Palm Boulevard in Brownsville, Texas 78520, (956) 546-7111.