Jessie Sheets

Jessie Sheets

8/1/1921 5/27/2003

Graveside services will be held at Hillcrest Memorial Park on Friday, May 30, 2003, at 3:00 p.m., in Lakeview Lawn for Jessie Sheets who passed away Tuesday, May 27, 2003. Jessie went peacefully at home with her family by her side.

Visitation is scheduled for Thursday, May 29, 2003, from 4-8 p.m.

Jessie was born in Hydro, Oklahoma, on August 1, 1921, and was raised in El Reno, Oklahoma. Jessie was one of three girls and one boy raised by Tom and Billie Gillum, also of Oklahoma and Bakersfield.

Jessie married Leslie Edgar Sheets on October 2, 1939. Their 44-year union of marriage continued until Leslies passing on October 19, 1983.

Jessie and Les raised three children in Bakersfield; Thomas Leslie Sheets, Billy Joe Sheets and Lesley Lynn Sheets-Horton, all of whom still reside in Bakersfield. Many of Jessies weekends and summrs were spent with Les and the kids at their cabin in Balance Rockthese memories will forever be cherished.

Jessie is preceded in death by her husband, Les; mother and father, Tom and Billie Gillum; sister, Vernie Koegler and grandson, Ryan Leslie Sheets.

Jessie is survived by her children: Tom and Kandice Sheets, Billy Joe and Laura Sheets, Jim and Lesley Lynn Horton and her little dog, Gracie.

Surviving grandchildren are: Wesley, Sean and Shane Sheets, Eric and Shannon Sheets- Boren, Tug and Shelly Sheets-Bozanich and Gary James Horton. Recently Jessies family expanded again as she became a great-grandma of baby Ryan Sheets-Bozanich.

Jessie also leaves behind her eldest sister, Thelma Caraker and her companion, Tom Tierney and her brother, Tag Gillum. Also left behind are her nieces and nephews: Jannie Helton, Harry Brown; Jayme, John, Joey and Jacob Stuart; Jimmy, Paula, Stacia, Skylar and Zerek Brown. As a special tribute, Jessies grandsons will be her pallbearers. They include Wesley, Sean and Shane Sheets, Eric Boren, Tug Bozanich, Gary Horton and Jimmy Brown.

The Family wishes to give special thanks to the Bakersfield Memorial Hospital CCU and 2nd floor staff; her family physician, Dr. Hector De Jesus, Dr. Amir, Dr. Miranda, Phyllis and Tracie at Glenwood Gardens, Hoffmann Hospice and all others who touched her life in a special way through the years.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ryan Sheets Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o North High School located at 300 Galaxy Avenue in Bakersfield, California 93308.

For 80 years, Jessie lived her life as a strong and independent woman. Her health over the last year declined considerably due to multiple falls and surgeries. Like a trooper, she held on to the very end. Jessie relinquished her struggle on earth so that she may be with her Lord Jesus Christ and her husband, Les, in Heaven. Rest in Peace until we see you again.
This obituary was originally published in the Bakersfield Californian.