Helen Jean Atwood

Helen Jean Atwood, formerly of Ione, California died peacefully on Saturday, January 24, 2009, in Fresno, California. At her side were her daughter and next-door neighbor from her 44 years in Oakland.

Jean, as she was known by everyone, was born in Max, Nebraska on March 12,1926 to the parents of Raymond Kimsey Pitney and Zada Lucille Boyce Pitney. Before she was 8 years of age they moved to Denver, Colorado. In her teenage years she became a talented roller-skater, and it was at the roller rink where she met her husband of 64 years. She moved to California in 1945 to be with him and on August 23rd they were married in Reno, Nevada. They settled in Oakland and there she raised her family in her dear Nevil Street home. When she retired from Lucky Stores headquarters, in 1991, she and Alan were able to move back into the Sierra Nevada foothills that they both loved. There they resided until their health made it necessary to live with Lynda and her husband, Bob, in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Prather.

Jean loved children, was an avid seamstress and gardener, and always was there to give a helping hand to anyone.

“If you know the wondrous feeling of a shimmering night sky filled with stars, or the hope of a golden, rising sun…if you know the warmth of a changing fall breeze that scatters leaves of red and orange, or the comfort of a majestic lighthouse on watch…if you know the mouth-watering delight of a freshly baked apricot pie, and the kindly gesture of a new neighbor presenting it to you…if you know the playful bliss of dancing in rain, or wading barefoot in a cool, fresh stream, or the adventure of taking a new road for the sake of getting lost…if you know true, old-fashioned courtesy, and genuine love of humanity, and kids, and pets, and buttons...if you know what it means to be loved, and cherished, and nurtured unconditionally, and compassionately…then you know the essence and spirit and heart of Helen Jean Atwood.” ~written by Lynn Bergman – beloved next-door neighbor of Jean

She is survived by her husband, Albert Atwood and their two children, Lynda Watts and Verne Atwood.

Family can be reached at [email protected]