JoVan Sears Obituary

JoVan Sears - comedienne, mother, consummate dresser, full of spunk and spitfire - died October 7, 2014, in Colorado Springs with her family by her side.

JoVan (born Alice Josephine Vanderslice) was born April 9, 1915, to John and Alice (Burgess) Vanderslice near the Texas border, in Hollis, Oklahoma. She lived in Fort Worth, where she married the late Carter E. Boren, and later in Houston, before settling down in Colorado Springs in 1965 with her second husband, the late Carl E. Sears.

JoVan is perhaps best remembered for the comedy act she developed based on mimicking the "country" relatives she visited as a child in Happy, Texas. She went from entertaining her brothers and sisters, to school assembly, church social, and civic club performing. After marrying, she dug up the old act, calling it the Country Cousin, and went on to perform throughout the United States. One of her most enjoyable performances was poking fun at a group of astronauts that included Frank Borman, James Lovell, and Walter Schirra. JoVan became blind in her sixties yet remained active as a comedienne until the age of 82.

After moving to Colorado Springs, she became a co-administrator of two retirement communities - Pikes Peak Towers of Colorado Springs and Metro Manor of Denver.

Mrs. Sears was a member of the First United Methodist Church. Donations to the Friends of Colorado Talking Library, the SEE THE FUTURE fund, or the charity of your choice are preferred.

In keeping with JoVan's joyous spirit and lifelong love of a crowd, a celebratory memorial will be held at a future date, to be announced.