GRACE JESSIMAN

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

GRACE JESSIMAN Grace Jessiman, aged 89, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 22, 2003, at Port Orchard Care Center in Port Orchard, WA. She had suffered a series of strokes over the past five years which finally took their toll. Grace was born to James and Katherine Watson on July 18, 1913, in Winnipeg, the youngest of six children. She attended business college in Winnipeg, as well as the Banff School of Fine Arts on a drama scholarship. Grace worked as a radio announcer and in business in several cities throughout Canada before her marriage on October 2, 1953 to Alexander William Jessiman. Grace and Alex moved to Olympia, WA in the fall of 1954, where they spent the balance of their married life. Grace loved the theater and regularly acted in and directed plays in Winnipeg and for the Olympia Community Theater, as well as the Abbey Players and other groups. She was a loving, caring individual and looked for ways to be of service, not only to her immediate family, but to all with whom she came in contact. Through the years, she was actively involved with the Friends of the Library, Olympia Garden Club, Friendship Circle, Meals on Wheels and as a frequent volunteer for school children (as a reading tutor), mentally disabled adults, the blind and the elderly. Grace was a member of the United Churches and served as a lay leader. She spent several years working for the State of Washington and retired from the Department of Natural Resources in 1978. Grace was predeceased by her husband Alex in 1973; and her daughter Barbara in 1993. She is survived by her son, Bill Jessiman (Betsy) of Dallas, TX; and her daughters, Judy Batschi (Matt) of Silverdale, WA and Laurie Cayton (Pat) of Salt Lake City, UT. Grace adored her 16 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. She will be missed greatly by friends and family. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, February 27 at the United Churches in Olympia, WA. Interment will be in the Olympic Memorial Gardens in Olympia. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in Graces honor to the American Stroke Association (1-888-4STROKE).

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 01, 2003