LaVerne Jessop

Gracine LaVerne McMullen Jessop (best known as LaVerne) 90, passed away peacefully on May 12, 2021 in Golden, Colorado. LaVerne is survived by her loving family her children; Deborah Jessop, George (Tina) Jessop, and Ken (Carol) Jessop; grandchildren, Kindra (Dustin) Richartz, Dean (Christine) Jessop, Ryan (Dani) Jessop, Jeri (Greg) Schlichting, and Mindy Jessop; great grandchildren, Kylee Richartz, Daniel Richartz, Jaden Jessop, Kyra Jessop, Glen Jessop, Nora Jessop,Dante Schlichting, and Chris Chavez. She was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years Dean, parents, Burton and Esther McMullen, sister Katherine Moore, and brother Marvin McMullen.

LaVerne was born Feb 26, 1931 in Stockton California. Her parents died when she was 4 years old, leaving the 3 children in the care of her mother’s parents, aunts, and uncles. She was raised on a ranch in Galt, California, going to school in Galt and business school in Stockton where she learned bookkeeping and secretarial skills to support herself. She and her sister shared an apartment in Stockton and learned skills she’d use the rest of her life in establishing a nice home for her family. She met her “sailor boy” Dean at a New Year’s Eve (1952) party on Treasure Island, California. She was shocked the next morning when he actually showed up on her doorstep to begin courting her. He was shipped out the following week and they continued corresponding. He actually told her in his second letter that he knew she was the one he would marry. When in port in San Diego, he’d hitch-hike to Stockton to see his sweetheart. They planned on a November wedding but decided before he was shipped out again to elope and married July 26, 1952 on board the naval ship, the USS Curtis. When Dean was released from the navy, he took his expectant wife to his home state of Colorado.

They lived in Denver, Lakewood, and Golden Colorado. Their 3 children were born in Denver. They planned and built their home in Golden. LaVerne stayed home a practiced the skills she’d learned from her grandmother and aunts to create a loving family. While she waited until the children were in Jr High to work outside of the home, her early days were taken up with raising 3 children and her working sister’s daughter Yvonne – that was 4 children under the age of 4! She was an outstanding seamstress and took in sewing, alterations, etc. to supplement the family income. As the children got older, she added the skills of knitting, crochet, cake decorating, floral arranging, photography, and more to her able skills of sewing, cooking, and gardening. Not being busy enough LaVerne also became a Cub Scout den mother and a 4-H leader. The house was never empty of children learning from her.

After the children left home – more or less – and Dean retired, they enjoyed square dancing, travelling by RV, boat, and air, daily 3 mile walks with friends, and membership in the Maple Grove Grange in Wheat Ridge.

LaVerne loved her husband and family and friends. She was the quiet one in the family but her love was always present. She was there to talk to about anything and to share some “hard” advice when needed as well as a loving hug when it may not have been deserved.

She loved being a wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother as well as a friend to those around her.

We’ll all miss her.

Due to current restrictions, the capacity for LaVerne's services is #75. Please reach out to family to express your desire to attend. Her services will be livestreamed at the link below. Please keep in mind that the link will become live 10 minutes prior to scheduled services.

https://www.facebook.com/OlingerCrownHill/