Jackie Lou DeWitt

MARCH 24, 1939 - October 28, 2014

Jackie Lou DeWitt quietly entered the gates of heaven on October 28, 2014. She was 75 years old. She was preceded in death by her father Christopher Ward in 1976 and her amazing mother Mabel Ward just two short months ago.

Jackie was born in Spiro, Oklahoma, and moved to California while a teenager. She graduated from Hawthorne High School in 1957. In the early "60s she accepted a position as secretary at Hallet Manufacturing. It was later purchased and the name changed to Livingston Industries. The company would relocate to Redding in 1975 and the whole family with it. She worked at Livingston's until the early "80s, when she would take a job as the secretary for the Centerville Water District, where she worked until her retirement in 2004.

She was an inspiration to all, as she was a three-time cancer survivor. She was a tough fighter and an inspiration to all she came in contact with. Once you met mom, she was your friend. Even doctors and nurses marveled at her strength and courage as she battled cancer and won. Unfortunately, she didn't get to enjoy the victory of that third battle, which left her body weary. She kept her sense of humor throughout.

She is survived by the love of her life, Gordon DeWitt, her husband of 42 years. He spent the last two and a half years taking care of her. She is also survived by her six children and their families, Robert & Sheila Withrow of Redding, Ianna DeWitt of Redding, Lisa and Ron Spliethoff of Crescent City, Ray & Stephanie DeWitt of Kentucky, Steven & Tame DeWitt of Ponca City, Oklahoma and Gordon & LynnAnne DeWitt of Redding.Her 18 grandchildren are Jennifer King (Craig), Rebecca Spliethof and Stacey Spliethof, all of Red Bluff. Chris Withrow of Las Vegas, Alex Withrow of Santa Barbara and Sam Withrow of Redding. McKenzie, Tannor, Maddie, Isaiah and Aleena DeWitt of Redding. Kianie, Hunter & Mikayla of Ponca City, Oklahoma. Paul Crane of Redding, Aaron Crane of Cottonwood and Nicole Crane of Redding.She also has 15 great-grandchildren, and numerous friends and family who will dearly miss her, but are comforted with the fact that she is now with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, whom she so loved

.A memorial service will be held at Neighborhood Church at 777 Loma Vista Drive on Wednesday, November 5th at 11:00 a.m.All of her children are honored and blessed to have had her as our mother. If you want to send flowers, please send to the Neighborhood Church by the morning of service.

We would like to thank all of her doctors, especially Dr. John Coe, and all of the great nurses and technicians who took care of her and assisted her.

Also, we'd like to express our sincere thanks and gratitude to Gordon DeWitt for loving our mom for over four decades, and taking amazing care of our Mom.