It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our devoted and cherished mom, Jean, age 96, following a brief illness at her home in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The only daughter of eight children born to the late Joseph and Wilhelmina (Preis) Gomeringer of Essex, Maryland, Jean was a devoted mother, wife, sister, sister-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother.

As a young woman, Jean, helped with the care of her younger siblings as her parents operated a general store, and was active in her church and the local chapter of the Girl Scouts of America.

In the early 50s she met and married a young soldier, Sterling W. Hall, of Hampton, Va. Together, they raised four children in the primary communities of Hampton Roads, Va. and Beltsville, Md.

While homemaking dominated her daily life, especially with the elderly care of both her mother and mother-in-law, Jean was an avid and talented bowler, winning many awards throughout her adult life.

Following Sterling's death in 2001, Jean moved to Columbia, Md. and enjoyed the companionship of her many friends at Park View, where she participated in bingo, exercise classes, and frequent bus trips to area restaurants. She was also a proud member of the Red Hat Society and the Beltsville "Young at Heart" Club.

In addition to numerous distant relatives and friends, Jean leaves behind to mourn her children; Michael (Donna) Hall of Silver Spring, Md., Kathy (Jerry) Wolfe of Hedgesville, WVa., Patrick (Sharon) Hall of Myrtle Beach, SC and Karen (Greg) Nieman of Glenwood, Md; a brother, Christopher (Ed) Gomeringer of Bel Air, Md; sisters-in-law Dorothy Boyette (North Carolina), Linda and Teresa Hall (Virginia); 10 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren and 7 great-great grandchildren.

Visitation will be held at Collins Funeral Home, 500 University Blvd, West, Silver Spring, MD on Sunday, January 19th from 9 to 10 am, where funeral service will follow at 10 am. Interment at Parklawn Memorial Park, 12800 Veirs Mill Road, Rockville, MD on Sunday, January 19th at 2:30 pm.