Eugenia Carroll Fouraker's Obituary
Gainesville resident Eugenia Carroll Fouraker passed away peacefully while under hospice care on Thursday, September 11, 2025. Jean, as she was known to her family and many friends, and "Mimi" to her grandchildren, fought a valiant six months fight with advanced brain cancer,
She was born on January 31, 1947, in Elizabeth, NJ. Jean is survived by her husband of 57 years, William (Bill) Fouraker, Jr. Her immediate surviving family include two sons, William (Lee) Fouraker Ill, of Winter Garden, FL, and Brian Carroll Fouraker (Julie) of Thompson's Station, TN, three grandchildren Cailin Fouraker, Chase Fouraker, and Ashlyn Fouraker, and sibling sister Dianne Martaus (Paul) of Mountain Home, AR, and brother Marc Carroll (Sue) of Pompano Beach, FL. She was preceded in death by her parents father Francis P, Carroll and her mother Ann S, Carroll.
Jean retired in 2007 after a distinguished 30-year insurance career in the Orlando area before she and Bill moved to their retirement home in Gainesville. She retired as an Assistant Vice President and minority partner with one of the largest Central Florida independent insurance agencies. She managed its personal lines profit center.
She met Bill while working in the registrar's office at University of Florida. She was the night supervisor and Bill was a student assistant. They stayed working together after marrying on October 19, 1968, until Bill graduated the next year. They then moved to Jacksonville where the couple both began insurance careers in different areas of the industry. A subsequent transfer to Ft. Lauderdale and then a second one finally sent them to Orlando where they resided until retirement.
Jean's family, her love of gardening, and the Florida Gators were central to her life. She spent many hours helping granddaughter Cailin with her local art and science projects. Although they did not live in Gainesville, she followed closely Chase and Ashlyn's many academic and athletic successes. She looked forward to their visits to cook requested meals and play their favorite board and card games.
As an avid and accomplished gardener, Jean was an active member of the Jasmine Circle of the Gainesville Garden Club. During her many years of membership she held several officer positions and chaired or co-chaired several committees. At the club she made many friends and cherished memories. A highlight of her membership was exhibiting her landscaped home gardens to visiting tour groups and other gardening and bird-watching enthusiasts.
Bill and Jean's history of following the Gators as former students, alumni, and season ticket holders led to an inevitable retirement in Gainesville for athletic and cultural events. Attendance at both home and away games, tailgating with family and friends, and booster club memberships were a large part of their life. Two highlights of her Gator history: attendance one year at every Gator football game both home and away plus the bowl trip; and attendance at the College World Series in 2016.
Jean Fouraker's family and friends will always remember her as a positive, encouraging, and supportive spirit with an incredible work ethic.
A Celebration of Life in Jean's honor will be held Saturday, January 31, 2026 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.at the Gainesville Garden Club, 1350 NW 75th Street, Gainesville, FL 32605. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations in her memory are made to the Gainesville Garden Club or Haven Hospice.
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