The following personal account was submitted by Mike Jones of Ardmore, Oklahoma in June of 2006:

Jean Bales was a very dear friend of mine, I first met Jean in Chickasha, Oklahoma in 1966.   I also took some art classes with her at OCLA, (Oklahoma College of Liberal Arts) in Chickasha the same year.   Jean or Jeanne, as she was known then was an extremely fun person to be with.  She had a fantastic personality and was also a very pretty young lady.  We kept in touch off and on for over 20 years after becoming friends in 1966.  

My wife and I went to one of her art shows in Oklahoma City, in 1983.  She gave me one of her prints, "Persimmon Time," and signed and numbered it.  It's a poster which commemorates, "Indian Women Artists of Oklahoma," November 2nd through December 12th, 1982 which was held at the Museum of Art at the University of Oklahoma, it is on Mulberry paper I still have it framed. 

Several years later I saw Jean again at Murray State College, where her wonderful art was featured again with several other Native American Artists.  While I knew Jean was a very talented artist with highly sought after paintings, I shall always remember her more for the special friend and person she was.  I was not aware of her passing.  I knew she had relocated to the Tahlequah area several years ago and had a studio there.  She was someone who always brightened my life with her smile and bubbly personality.