Jenny Gregg was as good as they come – a genuinely selfless, kind, and compassionate gift to everyone she met.  She was beautiful, but humble and unassuming.  To know Jenny was to adore her.

Jenny Diane Major was born September 10, 1957, to parents Joe and Syble Major. From the hospital, her folks took her to their home in Ozark, Missouri, where she met her big sister, Julie. The Major family grew to add sister Melanie and brother Sam in the ensuing years (and sisters Hannah and Adrianna many years later). Growing up, Jenny spent a lot of time outside – running around the neighborhood, playing games, camping, and floating the local rivers. Jenny was a sweet, kind and playful child, with the same loving spirit she maintained throughout her life.  Her parents had a large community of friends, endearingly known as “the gang”, and Jenny grew up attending regular country get-togethers.  She was raised in the Baptist church and had an incredibly strong Christian faith her entire life.

In school, Jenny ran track, played volleyball, and cheered.  She was also a very good student, with a great mind.  At age 15, Jenny met Rick Gregg, a boy from Ozark’s rival school of Nixa. They started dating and then married. They wasted no time having kids, who they raised in Nixa.  Over the course of their marriage, Jenny and Rick had 5 children (April, Trevor, Chandler, Justin and Major), four of whom were born within the first 7 years of their marriage. No question, Jenny’s highest calling was being a MOM, and she was undoubtedly a master at it.  She was imminently calm, patient, loving, and kind — without a selfish bone in her body.

While her kids were young, Jenny attended nursing school and graduated at the top of her class. She taught Sunday school for years, worked the 7 pm-7 am nursing shift at the hospital, and somehow never missed any of her kids’ activities.  She constantly bussed the kids (and their friends) around, taking the time with each to find out exactly what was going on at school and how each was doing. She regularly spoke to her kids about the importance of their character, teaching the qualities of honesty, kindness, and hard work that were inherent in her.

Spending time with her family was always what mattered most to Jenny. She never wanted nor needed much materially – just some family around, hopefully a lot of sunshine, and if possible, a nearby river or stream. Two of her favorite spots to be with family were her parents’ small cabin on Bull Creek and her dad’s spot on the Finley River. Jenny loved to be outside; for 30 years, she and her daughter rarely missed a walk together on a warm, sunny day.

Jenny was never judgmental, never lost her cool, and always saw the best in others. As her cancer took its grips, the last couple years were undoubtedly taxing, but Jenny never complained.  Her grandchildren called her “Gigi”—and it was seeing those grandkids, camping with them in her backyard, attending their events, and taking them to do fun things that gave her joy and kept her alive the last few years.

Jenny is preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Syble Major.  Jenny is survived by Rick Gregg and her children April Tindall, Trevor Gregg (Andie), Chandler Gregg (Shannon), Justin Gregg (Chelsea), Major Gregg; her grandchildren Salem Gregg, Zya Tindall (Bruce Tindall, dad), Beau Gregg, Alex Gregg, Quinn Gregg, Baldwin Gregg, and Shaw Gregg; her sisters Julie Cantrell, Melanie Karner (Rick), Hannah Major, and Adrianna Bruening (Joe); her brother Sam Major (Dawn); many nieces and nephews who she loved dearly, a large extended family, and countless other close friends.

In Jenny’s spirit, in lieu of flowers or donations, please do something fun with your family: get outside, enjoy the sun, share an experience with them.  If you feel like you need to spend money, spend it on an experience with them.

A casual visitation will be held from 1:00 -2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 25, 2023, at Greenlawn Funeral East on 3540 E. Seminole, Springfield Mo 65809.  The Memorial Service/celebration of life will follow, from 2:00-2:30 p.m. Feel free to stop by for a short time to pay your respects or to attend it all.