Jean G. Hathaway died on Nov. 29 at her Edgartown home from respiratory failure. She was 84 and had been a lifelong resident of Edgartown.

She was born in Edgartown on Jan. 7, 1934, the daughter of the late Truman and Estella Galley, the 13th generation of the founding family of Thomas Mayhew, and the 14th generation of the Mayflower generation. She graduated from the Edgartown High School and worked for a number of years as the bookkeeper for Grant Brothers Construction.

In 1963, she married Dick Hathaway. The marriage later ended in divorce, and in 1993 she married Leo M. Cohen, who predeceased her in 2015.

Jean was involved in public service for much of her life. From 1974 to 1987, she was the Edgartown town treasurer. She served as a selectman from 1969 to 1972. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Garden Club, and the Historical Society, where she took great pleasure in maintaining the gardens of the Edgartown parks and being an integral member of the Edgartown Christmas decorating committee.

She found comfort and peace in her Edgartown home, fondly named Old Acres. She was fiercely independent and could be a force to be reckoned with. During the recession of 1975, Jean was not deterred. Instead, she praised the benefits of gardening and feeding oneself.

She is survived by her three nephews, including William G. Wannamaker, whom she raised.

In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by her niece and her two sisters, Pauline Wannamaker and Phyllis Colman.

A graveside service will be held at the Old Westside Cemetery in Edgartown at 11 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 7.