Jeanette "Louise" Kathleen Fuller

Jeanette “Louise” Kathleen Fuller was brought into this world by Debra and James Fuller on January 6, 1978. She had many nicknames growing up, but the one that stuck, was Louise; so that’s what everyone called her. She was a very happy, mischievous little toddler. She lived close to her Aunts, Uncles and cousins at that time. So, whenever she couldn’t get what she wanted from Mom or Dad, she would climb the fence and go see her cousins. They all had fun growing up together. Louise grew up with lots of love and care all around her.

She had an accident when she was 2 years old. She choked on a baby aspirin. This left her in a wheelchair unable to walk or talk. The trauma from the accident also caused her to become diabetic and have a seizure disorder, but that didn’t keep her from doing what she wanted to do. You see, even though her little body was limited in so many ways, she was not about to give up on life and her parents were not about to give up on her. Due to her Mom’s expertise in Genealogy, Louise was able to become a proud, card carrying member of the Choctaw Nation. She always found a way to get whatever she wanted. Louise used her eyes, facial expression and vocal cords to get her way, just like her favorite character, Donald Duck. Louise refused to be ignored. Her mom used to lovingly call her “loud mouth lime” whenever she was in one of her attention getting moods. Louise was also a Daddy’s girl! Her face would light up and she would get a big grin on her face whenever she saw him walk through the door.

She started off in a school that was specifically for severely handicapped children. She learned as much as she could and she tried her best to do well in school but she was missing one thing, that was being with her own age, General Education peers. So, Debbie and Jamie agreed that she needed to go to a Regular school. They fought the good fight and finally won the right for Louise to go to a General Ed school. It was at Fairfax School that she met her forever friends. They even formed a group called “Friends Together Forever,” which included her best friend Marlina, and her cousin Zeke any many other lifetime friends. Louise was the queen of the group. She would kick off her shoe so that one of the boys would have to put it back on for her. She knew how to get their attention. Her friends learned how to take care of her, how to test her blood and how to give her insulin shots. Louise and her friends went to school together all the way through High School. They made sure that Louise was included in all the school activities. She went to football games and even made the cheerleading squad. She went to dances, movies, the mall, and even the local 711 store with her friends. They always included her in their outings. Louise even went to her High School Prom and was able to roll across the stage with her friends, to receive her High school Diploma in 1995, from Foothill High School.

Louise loved to travel. Her parents would take her camping and fishing at Camp Nelson. They also took her to Sacramento, San Francisco, San Diego, Lake Tahoe, Reno, Yosemite, and Las Vegas. She would not be kept down. Marlina had unknowingly been in training with Deb to learn everything she needed to know, to take care of Louise. Then when Deb passed away, it was very natural for Marlina, Louise’s best friend, to take over her care as her dad, Jamie was unable to care for her due to medical reasons. Marlina took Louise home to live with her and her family. She loved Louise so much. She made sure that she continued to have a quality life. Louise was part of their family. She even went on vacations to the beach, Universal studios, Disneyland, and Knotts Berry Farm with Marlina, her husband and their 3 boys. Jamie, her dad, was always there to visit and support Louise whenever he could. Louise had a very fun filled life with all of her extended family, friends, cousins, Aunts and Uncles who loved her very much. She was an amazing woman who lived a long full life, and managed to do it on her own terms despite her limitations. She will never be forgotten! She will always be in the hearts of those of us fortunate enough to have known her.

She was taken home to be with her savior Jesus Christ on January 11, 2020. She was preceded in death by her Mother, Debra Ann Fuller. She leaves to cherish her memory, her father, James Fuller of Bakersfield; her extended family, Marlina Zavala and husband Fidel, Sarina, Isaiah, Jacob, Jason, and Jayden of Bakersfield, Nancy Schofield-Soppeland and family of Hawaii, Belinda Tufele and husband Falema’o , Michael, Melvin, and Adrian of San Diego, Ca., her Uncle, Dave Sherwood and wife Barbara of Morro Bay, Ca., her Aunt, Mary Wilson of Edison, Ca., her Aunt, Jennye Wilson and husband Tom of Fresno, Ca., her Aunt Valeria Tatman and husband Larry of Bakersfield, Ca. and countless cousins and friends.