JANET PRESLEY

1932 - 2024

JANET CAROL PRESLEY

Dec. 22, 1932 – Nov. 25, 2024

Janet Carol Presley, loving sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother passed away on November 25, 2024, after a brief illness. Janet was born December 22, 1932, in Evanston, Illinois. The family moved a lot for her father's job when she was young, eventually settling in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania just outside of Pittsburgh. Her father did quite well working for Bendix and they lived the country club life. In 1943, at 11 years old, her childhood took a sudden turn from riches to rags when her father died. Without her father, the family moved into a two-flat apartment building in Chicago with Aunt Flo, Uncle Jack, and a single aunt, Win. The four noisy children and their mother lived on the first floor and the three adults took the second floor. When Janet's father died, he had minimal life insurance, some debt, and left her mother with virtually no money and four kids to feed. So, in what seemed no more than the blink of an eye, they went from an ideal life in Pittsburgh to a difficult one in Chicago. The experience gave Janet a fortitude and persistence that would serve her for the rest of her life.

In 1952, while studying English at Monmouth College, she met her husband-to-be, William (Bill) Presley, at a school dance. They married on December 31, 1952, in Chicago. After marrying Bill, she left the big city in the rear-view mirror and moved to the quaint town of Brawley, California with its 120-degree summers; no more cold, no more snow, no more four seasons. And it was in Brawley that Bill and Janet built their family and community. They had five children and both worked in the local public schools, she as a schoolteacher and high school counselor. In order to become a teacher, she attended San Diego State University while raising her 5 children, driving to San Diego to take classes in the summer and one summer the whole family moved to San Diego for her to pursue her goals. At her graduation, her keynote speaker was none other than John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States. The work ethic and persistence she modeled for her children would become a foundational part of the Presley character.

She and Bill were very active in their children's activities and social events. They did not miss a concert, sporting event, or chance to support their children in all they did. When Janet and Bill retired, they bought a place in Beaver, Utah, close to Bill's sister's summer getaway. Bill and Janet would escape Brawley once the temperature hit 100 and return once the Utah cold set in, making this pilgrimage for over 30 years. Presley siblings and grandkids got to know Beaver and all of its special places. Fish Lake was a favorite spot where Bill and Janet took anyone who visited them in Utah. They loved to fish, camp, and play golf while they were in Beaver.

Bill passed away in 2015 and Janet spent the rest of her life maintaining a busy social calendar with her friends and family in Brawley. As a beloved Brawley High School counselor, when the class of 1973 had their 50th reunion, she was a Guest of Honor. When the Brawley class of 1974 celebrated their 50th reunion in September, approximately 50 class members showed up to Brownies Diner during her regular Sunday breakfast time to join her and show their gratitude and love.

Janet was the matriarch and originator of the Presley women characteristic. Starting with her, all future Presley women are notably smart, self-assured, bossy, good looking, and some would say opinionated. Did we mention smart? One of Janet's favorite things was when her granddaughters would show up at her house for a movie night. She very much loved getting together with her family every Sunday. She showed her love by making sure everyone was well fed and knew her famous spaghetti recipe, she would segment your grapefruit for breakfast, and she made the meals stretch for her large family by adding celery to everything (yes, even the scrambled eggs.) In later years, Janet hosted breakfast for her extended family at Brownie's. Whenever family visited, from Chicago to Washington, she would call everyone together for a meal. Janet loved nothing more than a table full of family.

Janet was active up to a week before she died. She played Bridge twice a week and would have played more if she could find someone to play with. She still drove her Toyota all over the valley and just renewed her passport looking for another place to visit in the world. She was giving her family directions up until the end in her self-assured and practical way. Her life was remarkable, her character inspiring, and she will be sorely missed. She is survived by her five children, Susan Sullivan (Jim), Michael (Sydney), Margaret Dahm (Steve), Bill (Sandy), and Bob (Dana); 17 grandchildren; and 26 great-grandchildren.

Graveside services will be held on January 10, 2025, at 11 a.m. at Riverview Cemetery and directly following a reception at Stockman's Club. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the charity of your choice.