Jean McFedries

Jean Lashbrook McFedries, 88, of Bettendorf, died peacefully, Tuesday, March 4, 2025 surrounded by her family.

A memorial visitation will be held from 1 until 3 p.m. Sunday, March 9, 2025 at the Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, 614 N. Main Street, Davenport. Keeping with her wishes, cremation rites will take place following the visitation. Memorial contributions may be made in Jean’s honor to the American Cancer Society.

Jean Lashbrook Conn was born on July 10, 1936, in Scotland, a daughter of Norman and Catherine (Dykes) Conn. With thick blonde curls, bright blue eyes, and an infectious laugh, Jean had a presence that lit up every room. In 1955, she married John “Scotty” McFedries, and the following year they embarked on a new adventure, moving to the United States. Together, they raised four children. Jean took great pride in becoming an American citizen and enjoyed taking part in politics.

After 30 years of marriage, Jean and Scotty divorced but remained lifelong business partners. Together with their children, Norman and Kate, they built Scotty’s Auction Service into one of the premier auction houses in the country.

Jean’s entrepreneurial spirit ran deep as she founded Red Lion, an estate appraisal and sales shop, while also owning and managing rental properties.

Her keen business acumen extended to her grandchildren, offering them guidance and support in their own entrepreneurial endeavors.

A natural born leader, Jean led an incredibly active life, and thrived in the face of adversity. Jean lived without fear. She had the rare ability to transform any situation into something positive and filled our lives with consistent love and guidance. Jean always made it a point to call or pick up the phone. You could count on her to be there for you no matter the circumstance.

Jean cherished her family, having an especially close bond with her grandchildren, and was blessed to adopt her grandson, Keenan, on President’s Day in 2000. Jean was a wealth of knowledge and a natural born historian. She loved to dance, enjoy a good meal with her girlfriends, and a glass of cream sherry every now and then. She always brought her family together during the holidays. Jean was the consummate host and an exceptional cook, always the last to sit down and eat, and was known for her Scottish Trifle. Jean also enjoyed spending time in Florida and would travel to her home in Hudson, Florida regularly, taking her last trip in January.

Those left to honor Jean’s memory are her children: Norman McFedries and Jennifer McFedries; grandchildren: Andrew, Desiree, Athena, John “Keenan”, Scott, Nathan, Kelsey, Norman, Jr., Austin, Trevor, Melissa, Whitney, Millie, Sonny, and Scotty; as well as twenty-six great-grandchildren, one great-great grandson; brothers, James (Sylvia) Conn, and William “Bunty” (Mary) Conn, and well as nieces and nephews and special friend, John Clarke, Davenport.

Jean was preceded in death by her daughters, Agnes McFedries Kennedy and Cathleen “Kate” McFedries Heuer, her parents, and a sister, Martha Shearer, and special friend, Don Williams. May they rest in peace.