Jessie Durrett, 89, died Sept. 28, 2006, with her family by her side.
Internment is private. There will be a celebration of her life at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, at the Baker County Extension Building, 2610 Grove St.
Jessie was born on Aug. 29, 1917, in Oklahoma to Henry Porter and Almeda Buxton Porter. She was the third of seven children. When she was only a year old, the family moved to Oregon. Jessie grew up in the Baker and Richland areas.
At 18, Jessie married Paul Durrett. They first lived at Cornucopia, where Paul was a miner. In 1941, Paul’s job took them to Hawaii. Soon afterward, they experienced the bombing of Pearl Harbor. It was a frightful time, so they returned to the mainland as soon as possible.
Because Paul worked in construction, they traveled to many cities before finally settling in California’s Bay Area. Jessie was ever the faithful wife, consummate homemaker and loving mother of two.
Prior to moving to Baker City in 1978, Jessie managed her own dress shop after the death of her husband. Upon retirement, she moved to be close to her elderly mother. She became active in the senior center and greatly enjoyed her pinochle groups.
She made many friends and renewed some from her childhood. Jessie was known as “Grandma Jessie” to many and loved being grandma to her neighbors, the Richardsons.
Last November, Jessie moved to Vacaville, Calif., to live with her daughter, Ailene Klotz. While in California, Jessie got to see all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who were her pride and joy. She made many new friends but never forgot all her special friends in Baker City.
Survivors include her daughter, Ailene Klotz; her son, Dale; daughter-in-law, Jennifer; eight grandchildren, Wendy Griffin and her husband, Sean, Kristina Metzinger and her husband, Charles, Kelly Gralewski and her husband, Bob, Eric Klotz and his wife, Tracey, Terry Durrett and his wife, Susan, Bryan Durrett and his wife, Lynette, Jaimie Potter and Kelly Silva and her husband, Mike; 15 great-grandchildren, Nolan and Riley Griffin, Zoe and Blake Metzinger, Tucker, Jack, and Grady Gralewski, Christian Chandler and Ethan Klotz, Gabrielle, Peyton and Owen Durrett and Jessica, Tanner and Amy Durrett; her sister, Iva Strohl; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, four sisters and one brother.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, October 24, 2006
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor
