Jean McDonald Tiffin, 94, died at her daughter's home on January 6, 2018. She was born in Detroit and grew up in Memphis, where she sometimes appeared on her father's radio show, "Mac's Melody Hour." She graduated from Humes High School and worked for Silvers Department Store in downtown Memphis and Sears Roebuck.

Jean married her true love, Ensley Tiffin, in 1942, and lived the rest of her life in service to her family and church. She enjoyed being a stay-at-home mother and, later, a caring and entertaining grandmother. Jean spent her life creating wonderful memories for her two daughters, passing on her favorite bits of wisdom, such as "This too shall pass," playing jacks and checkers, and sometimes being coaxed by them into a game of Monopoly.

She and Ensley were long-time members of Harris Memorial United Methodist Church. Jean filled many roles there, primarily in the choir, which Ensley directed.
After the church closed in 1974, they joined St. Stephen's United Methodist Church.

Jean was known and loved for her kind and generous spirit, her willingness to help anybody at any time, her power to forgive, her sense of humor, and her loyalty and faithfulness to God and her church. She cared for elderly relatives with patience and commitment for many years. She also had a special rapport with animals and adopted every stray dog that came to her doorstep.

After Ensley died in 1980, Jean lived independently for almost three decades. When her health began to decline recently, she moved in with her daughter and son-in-law in Collierville. Jean spent the last part of her life surrounded by family, still enjoying eating weekly Krystals and watching reruns of Lawrence Welk on television.

She is survived by her daughter, Joy Sutherland (Scott) of Collierville; daughter, Carol James (Rev. Ed) of Maine; grandchildren Kate Staggs (Colby) of Collierville and Amelia Sutherland of New York City; Rachel Beckwith (Chris), and Matthew Ensley James (Sarah), great-grandchildren Caroline and Charlotte Beckwith, Joshua and Emily Jean James, all of Maine; nephews Tim McDonald (Kristin) and Thomas McDonald (Becky) of Arkansas. She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 38 years, Ensley Tiffin; her parents, John Wallace and Ruby McDonald; brother, Thomas McDonald and sister-in-law, Ernestine (June) McDonald; nephew Michael McDonald; her lifelong friend, Zuleika Grogan, and countless friends from her Harris Memorial family. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Humane Society, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, or St. Stephen's United Methodist Church.