Jewel Langdon DuBois

Our Mom, Jewel Langdon DuBois, was 1 in a Million - she was so properly named 89 years ago. She had a sparkling personality & smile, with the Brightest Blue-Jewel eyes, amazing skin & beautiful hair, an unbelievable depth of wisdom, genuine sweetness & unconditional Love for all of us.

For such a tiny person, the empty space she left is enormous. The day before she became an Angel, I asked ‘how will I know you’re near?’ Her response was: “Look for a sparkle of unexpected light, whether off a drop of dew on a spider web or that one Bright Twinkling Star in the night sky that catches your eye, and that's where I'll be, sending you my Love & my Light".

She purposely smiled at everyone, hoping to give a little happiness to friends & strangers alike, wanting to brighten their day, and usually got a thank-full nod & return smile. Mom would take as long as someone needed to listen to their 'good news or bad news' & her wise counsel seemed to be inspired from 'Above'. She was an Angel walking the Earth...

What an incredible Lady she was!!! Dad - George (Bill) DuBois, her 1st & only Love of 70 story book years of marriage - often remarked, “she always looks so Classy" whether she was making breakfast, taking their daily walk hand-in-hand to the Carmel-by-the-Sea Post Office or joining him for dinner at the Monterey Peninsula Country Club. But, his favorite & truest statement was: "Isn't she The Sweetest Little Mother in the whole World".

She & Dad (her Honey) lived by the Golden Rule, and always 'Treated others as they would like to be Treated', no matter what the circumstances. Mom's Dad, Archie A. Dwight, instilled an extra sense of Politeness in her & Mom would often say, 'Just because I love you doesn't mean I like you, or your naughty ways!'...especially when I came home from Cal on breaks, smoking cigarettes & using bad words. Mom didn’t smoke or cuss & she did wash my mouth out with soap once : )

The youngest of 3 girls growing up in the Big Band era, she loved to dance, was a popular self-proclaimed ‘Good Joe’, Girls League President her Junior & Senior years, a member of CSF all through Visalia High School & wrote a column in the High School Newspaper called: "Judy". She had the grades to enter Cal, as a Freshman, along with Dad, as a returning GI. Mom was a talented artist, receiving an A in Sumi-e painting from Chiura Obata a famous Japanese painter during the WWII era.

In 1945, Dad was Home On Leave (2nd Lt/Army/Paratrooper) and asked Mom to go to the Sierra Dance as his Date; both fell in love that night. In October 1945, they Honeymooned at the Pine Inn in Carmel; “How Deep is the Ocean” was Their Song.

In 1949, they bought 120 acres of prairie land 5 miles West of Kerman & in 1954, with 3 daughters and a son on the way, Mom planned & designed a ‘Rancher style’ home that Dad hand-built of Adobe brick & steel frame, with heavy shake roof & 2 fireplaces. As the family grew up, they expanded the home & the small parcel of land had evolved into 480 acres of high-yielding almond orchards. They bought a 182 Cessna & Dad learned to fly. Soon they bought a 210 Cessna, Dad got his Instrument rating & Mom took a ‘Pinch-Hitter’ Pilot class ‘Just in Case’. She loved to plan trips & was ‘ready to go’ anytime Dad could get away from the crops for an afternoon, a day or several weeks. They flew together around the USA and visited Europe & Australia, but Carmel was their favorite, most frequent destination.

Besides being a Full-Time Mother raising 4 children, she was a creative cook & devoted wife who found time to become one of the original Kubler-Ross Hospice Volunteers at St. Agnes Hospital in Fresno. In Carmel, she was an original member of the Peninsula Club & creator of their Cypress & Sea logo, a Volunteer at CHOMP, a Carmel Heritage Docent, Carmel Foundation member & ‘Yes for Carmel’ supporter.

An incredibly accomplished & prolific Plein-Air watercolour artist, she captured the essence of the ocean & hillsides of local scenes around Carmel & Carmel Valley, often giving her art to admiring strangers, friends & family. It was a pleasure to learn from her, share a glass of wine, paint & just talk. I wish we’d had a couple more years & conversations. Lately, she’s had fun watching & painting with her 6 year-old Great grand-daughter, Genevra Coelho.

It was such a Pleasure & an Honor to be her oldest daughter, confidant, ‘Forever Friend until Forever ends’, and most wonder-full of all, her Caregiver in the last weeks of her life. Mom passed away on February 6, 2016 at 4:25pm with Dad holding her hand, assuring her that "It's OK little Sweetie, I'll see you again soon"...God Bless you Mom, we will Love & Cherish you Forever.

Jewel is survived by her beloved husband, George William DuBois (Carmel-by-the-Sea), daughters: Deberra O’Brien (Scott) of Carmel, Pamela Bertagnolli (Pete) of Petaluma, Marlene Couto (Joe) of Fresno, & son: Langdon DuBois (Susan) of Laguna Beach. Grand Children: Michelle (Anthony) Coelho and Scott (Charity) Couto & 4 adorable Great-GrandChildren, Cousins, Nieces, Nephews & countless Friends.

In Lieu of Flowers or monetary gifts to a charity, please buy a bottle of your favorite Wine, enjoy it with your family & friends ~ celebrate Life, Love & the short time you have, being happy here on God’s beauty-full Earth.

Deberra (DuBois) O’Brien

Carmel