Jeanette M Stewart

My grandmother, known to us children as Gramma Kemper, was born January 25, 1916 in Fresno, California with the name Mary Jeanette Stewart. She is the only daughter of Robert Stewart and Gertrude Brown, however her parents' divorced when she was only about 3 years, and she had no real memories of her mother. She was raised by Olive Konkel- Stewart.

She didn't like being called Mary and changed her name so she could go by her middle name instead. Her grandmother, Mary Alice Cindle- Stewart, had done the same.

She was 16 years old in the photo at left. She was probably still attending Westwood High School. A sporty girl, she was in track and field.

Jeanette met Ralph Sharpe in Westwood, Lassen county, California, and they married in 1934. Janice was the first born, Beverly second. Jeanette used to say if she had another baby girl, she would have named her Karen.

When her time drew near and Cancer was ravaging her, she was superstitious, you might say, that if the whole family gathered around her while she was sick that she'd pass away for sure. So she only allowed a few visitors at a time. She passed away alone in the hospital after a long battle with cancer and pneumonia on February 18, 1987.

Here are some of her own words from letters:

I was born Jan. 25th, 1916 in Fresno, Calif. to Robert Lafayette Stewart
& Gertrude Brown Stewart in the home of my parents during the daytime hrs.
My Dad was called from the Fire Dept in which he worked & he called the
Dr.

My Dad was born in Arkansas, my mother in Washington State. My mother
had been previously married & had a son by that marriage. My parents were
married until I was 3 years old.

My Mother was Catholic, my Dad, though he believed in God was not a
member in a church.

When I was almost three I remember playing with a
neighbor next door naving a pillow fight & I wound up with a broken
nose.

I can recall hiding in a trunk in the attic because my father who was a
barber at the time wanted to give me a haircut.

After my parents seperated I lived with my Paternal Grandparents. My
GrandDad was the Constable in Clovis, Ca., a small town near Fresno. I can
remember going with him to pick up some law breaker.

I was taken to what they called the Free Mkt. in Fresno, where the Farmers
took there produce, rabbits, chickens, eggs, etc. At one time I was given a
rabbit (a baby) by one of the farmers. I took it to bed with me. While I was
visiting my Dad one time my Grandma & Grampa killed my pet rabbit. I was
terribly hurt about this.

A letter on her yellow personal stationery dated May 8, 1986 when they lived at 4132 West Point Drive in North Highlands, CA. read as follows:

Hi Necee,
Got your darling card. Did you make it in Relief Society?
Dig the way my name is spelled on the Birth Certificate.

Bampa was a fireman when I was born. My half brother looked like he might
be about 3 or 3 1/2 when the picture I had of us was taken.

I decided to do a little sweepstaking this afternoon. The first in two or three weeks. We cashed in our Hi & Dri Paper Towel Coupon Sweeps this afternoon.

I should get in and answer Aimee's letter, but I'm afraid I might get writers' cramps from all the writing.

Tell everyone at Terri's Hi & at home, too.
Love You,

Mom