Lucille Marie Kellogg Sautter

Lucille Marie Sautter died Friday, April 15 in the early hours of the morning. Those who knew her know she died how she would have wanted: peacefully, after a long battle she knew she would inevitably lose, but did not find worth in giving-up. What a long and interesting life she lived during her 88 years.

Born Sept 15th, 1922 in Kansas City, Missouri and adopted by Orville and Cozetta Kellogg, Lucille grew up in Plainville, Kansas with her parents and two younger brothers, Doyle and Darrell. Lucille was very competitive in academics, athletics and music. She played all sports but excelled at fast pitch softball playing the positions of pitcher and shortstop. By age 15 she was playing professionally for the Paxton Clothiers of Kansas City. She also played the trumpet and piano beautifully and competitively, entering, and winning regional music contests.

After graduating from high school in 1940 Lucille attended Fort Hays State College, transferring to Kansas State College after the family moved to Lecompton, Kansas. She transferred again to Emporia State attending classes until she joined the Navy in the W.A.V.E.S. division in 1943.

As a W.A.V.E. Lucille completed her basic training at Hunter College, New York and then was sent to Code School in Ohio. She graduated from Code School and was sent to Washington D.C. to work on breaking Japanese codes. She ultimately ended up at Quonset Point, R.I. where each day, accompanied by two well-armed Marines, she left the base in a small boat at 5AM carrying classified weather codes to Nova Scotia, returning to base by nightfall.

Lucille’s favorite recreation on base was playing for the base softball team. She once pitched three games in one day. When she wasn’t pitching she played shortstop and once completed a spectacular play on a line drive that her team coach, Ted Williams, a future baseball Hall of Famer, called the “best play I’ve ever seen in softball or baseball”.

Lucille’s Navy career ended in 1946 after which she returned to Emporia State to complete her degree in Education, graduating in 1950.

June 10, 1951 Lucille married Charles Christopher Sautter, Jr. during a ceremony held at her parent’s home.

Lucille completed her Masters of Education at the University of Oklahoma in June 1951, then she and Chuck moved to Los Angeles, CA where their first child, Jeff, was born October 21, 1954. The following year included a move to Bakersfield, CA and a daughter, Chris, born December 23, 1955.

After moving to Bakersfield Lucille joined a group of ex-W.A.V.E.S. – a group they called the Wavets. These ladies had a great long history together including family outings and monthly get togethers – there aren’t many of them still around – only a couple – but they were a terrific source of comfort and joy to Lucille.

Lucille worked for the Girls Scouts of America for several years before beginning her long history with Bakersfield College in 1960 when she was hired as Director of Classified Personnel and Director of Student Job Placement.

Lucille spent 28 years at Bakersfield College enjoying many different roles at the college. She continued finding jobs for about 225 students on and off campus each year, teaching Women’s Studies, assisting with the coaching of the Women’s softball team, timing at swim meets and track meets. She established the Charles C. Sautter Scholarship after Chuck’s death in July 1969, continuing to assist students of her beloved Bakersfield College.

After retiring from Bakersfield College Lucille began to travel, venturing to Europe, Russia and Eastern Bloc countries, China, Australia, Greece and of course, Hawaii and Alaska. She enjoyed these trips with her brother and sister-in-law, Darrell and Shirley, as well as a fun-loving group of friends from Wichita, Kansas. They had many a story about the great times they had on these trips.

When Lucille wasn’t traveling the world she visited relatives in New Mexico and Kansas. She enjoyed many visits with Chuck’s family in Albuquerque which included his sister and her husband, Jane and Ted Spitz, and their four children Sally, Michael, Terry and Becky. She also spent many a summer with Darrell and Shirley and their three children, Roxanne, Kevin and Brett, in Wichita, KS.

Lucille spent a good portion of each track season starting in 1985 working the track meets at Bakersfield College for good friend and Head Coach Bob Covey. She became the Chief Timer in 1990 and continued with this job through the 2005 season. When she stepped down she had completed 38 track seasons and worked at 190 BC home meets….working with, in her words, “some of the finest people you could know”.

Lucille loved being a grandmother. Adrianne Michelle Sautter was born January 14, 1994 to Jeff and Linda and Alicia Nicole Krewer was born May 29, 1995 to Chris and Mike.

In her final years Lucille spent time visiting with her granddaughters and watching her favorite sports on TV. Traveling to games had become difficult for her so television coverage of golf, tennis, basketball, football (both college and pro) and baseball provided much entertainment. She didn’t miss a single televised game of her beloved OU Sooners.

With her health failing Lucille moved into Emeritus of Bakersfield in November 2009 where she received tremendous care from the wonderful staff through her final days.

Lucille’s husband Charles, and son Jeff, predeceased her in death.

The family would like extend a special thanks to all those that loved and cared for Lucille during her very long and full life – a life made much better by you being a part of the Journey of Life of Lucille M. Sautter.