Jewel Jean Fuller

Jewel Jean Fuller, age 88, of La Grande, passed away on Friday, February 25th, 2011 in Meridian, ID where she lived for the past two months. Jewel was born May 22, 1922 to John and Lula Rollins in Union, Oregon, in the Grande Ronde Valley where she spent her entire life. She joined a very loving family who lived on Clark's Creek outside of Elgin, Oregon. She had a very compassionate and caring way with people even at an early age. She was especially fond of her older sister, Erma, who took very good care of her during those childhood years. She told stories about growing up on their farm, riding her horse Diamond to school and to town, and was taught the important things in life by her mother, Lula.

Jewel graduated from Elgin High School in 1941 and married the love of her life, Keith Nelson Fuller in Weiser, Idaho that same year. World War II began September 1st 1939 when Germany invaded Poland and in November 1941 Keith was drafted into the Army. During that time Jewel followed Keith to Louisiana and Maryland and worked on the bases while he was training to go overseas. She learned a lot about herself and became a very valuable tool in keeping the morale of the troops and other wives in check. In was a long time before she would see him again but she remained faithful through April 7th 1946 when he was discharged at Fort Lewis, Washington.

Jewel and Keith settled down in the La Grande area and added their only child, a son Ronald, to their family. They lived in their residence on 12th Street and enjoyed many precious moments together there for 63 years, until moving to Meridian, Idaho in January of 2011 due to declining health and a desire to be closer to their son's family.

Jewel was a stay-at-home Mom and enjoyed raising her son and attending his extra curricular activities with her husband as much as possible. After her son got older she worked at the Stardust Lodge and Eastern Oregon University. Her favorite pastimes were square dancing, bowling, playing pinochle, and traveling with her sweetheart Keith. They took several trips to Hawaii, Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco Mexico. They also traveled with their trailer to many parts of the United States enjoying each and every trip. She loved taking car excursions with Keith around the Grande Ronde valley and into the mountains seeing the change in seasons and looking for wildlife. Everyone she met loved Jewel. In fact many younger people thought of her as "Mom" especially at the university. Her family, however, was the focus of her greatest devotion. Jewel was a gentle, loving, and sweet natured woman in all things most particularly as a wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, and aunt.

Jewel is survived by her husband, Keith, her son, Ron and wife Cheryl and her 5 grandchildren Mishelle Wasden, Heather Ogden, Mindy Godell, Nathan Fuller and Andrew Fuller, and their respective spouses, as well as13 great grandchildren. A grand daughter, Heidi, and her sister, Erma preceded her in death.

Funeral services will be held on March 5th, 2011 at Daniels-Knopp Funeral Cremation & Life Celebration Center in La Grande at 2:00pm. with a graveside dedication service following at the Hillcrest Cemetery. A viewing will be held on Saturday at 1:00pm.

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