Jessie Karr

1924 - 2021

Jessie (Jasmine) Karr
At 12:25 PM, on April 26, 1924, in Fresno, CA a baby girl, Jasmine, was born to Jacob and Mary (Abelian) Egitkhanoff. Her parents survived the Armenian genocide, then traveled on to Greece where they were told to go to America, the land of the free. Mary spent her time below deck, not only from sea sickness but also from being pregnant with Jasmine. They arrived in New York, then traveled to Fresno, CA where Hysmig (Armenian name for Jasmine) Pepronia was born.
Jasmine, later called Jessie, lived many places as her parents followed the harvest fields of the Central Valley of California to make a living for themselves and their four children: John, Jasmine, Margaret and Danny. One of the places they lived was Sonoma County. It was in nearby Boyes Hot Springs that Jessie's life would be forever changed. She reluctantly attended a dance with a girlfriend. Jessie tells the story of how the friend threw her into the arms of her husband-to-be (Robert "Bob" Russell Karr). They started dancing and they never quit.
They lived several places before buying the dairy farm in Sebastopol from her parents, a place where she lived as a 17 year old and where she and Bob spent the rest of their lives. Jessie adored her husband and her five children, Dianne, Bill, Rosemary, Bob and Betty. She spent sixteen years working at Sonoma State Hospital to help supplement the dairy farm operation.
Jessie loved beauty. She enjoyed planting trees, shrubbery, and flowers to beautify her corner of the world. Music and art were two of her favorite pastimes. Somehow, she squeezed these into her very busy life. Though she never had any formal music lessons, she played the piano by ear with skill and passion. Throughout her life, she always wanted to read music. Once in her adult years she took piano lessons but soon got so confused between reading notes and playing by ear that she almost forgot how to play altogether. She had a beautiful voice and loved to sing. As a teenager, she and her sister Margaret sang a duet for a radio talent show. They even had a record made of the performance. She enjoyed drawing and sketched pictures of ladies in beautiful, fashionable gowns. While in high school, her art teacher told her, "you are my most promising student." Though she didn't pursue her dream of becoming a fashion designer, she did sew and create beautiful dresses for her daughters.
Jessie had a love for God and attended the Santa Rosa Seventh-day Adventist church faithfully. Through the years she was involved in children's programs. She loved the children and sat in the back rows to be with them and to help their parents. She was known to the children as "the lady with a big smile."
Through the years Jessie's family has grown to include sons-in-law Robert and Larry, daughters-in-law Ann and Sue, ten grandchildren, sixteen great grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren. Jessie loved her family and was the heart of the family circle. Her positive attitude and cheery smile won the hearts of family and friends. Her motto in life was, "Be thankful for what you have." Her theme song for life on this earth was, "Keep on the sunny side of life." For everyone who knew Jessie, she was a bright light and the memory of her smile will warm our hearts forever.
Jasmine has been predeceased by her parents, Jacob and Mary Egitkhanoff, by her three siblings John, Margaret and Danny and by her adoring and loving husband, Robert Karr (deceased August 14, 2006).
Jasmine passed away July 14, 2021 at the age of 97 surrounded by loved ones. Family and friends are invited to attend a celebration of her life on Saturday, August 21, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. at the Santa Rosa Seventh-day Adventist Church, 840 Sonoma Avenue, Santa Rosa, California.