Jacqueline Putney

Her early years were spent growing up with the difficulties of life in the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. In 1933 her mother, Johnnie, and this beautiful 4yr old golden girl, plus her two sisters, set out for the promises of a better life in the golden State of California. The three sisters had to abandon many of their possessions because it was too much for their mother to carry, especially their dolls, on the side of the road so that they could catch rides to California. We believe that she learned early on the importance of a loving heart and a strong determination to always see the best in people and situations.

Her mother remarried and settled the blended family of seven children in Bellflower. Jacqueline graduated from high school and like so many young women of their generation went to work starting at the Bank of America. She never looked back...she poured all of her energy into becoming a person that was beautiful on the outside and even more beautiful on the inside. While there was the banking side of her work she also took time to do some modeling; brains and beauty...a great combination.

It was at the bank that she caught the eye of a young Marine Corps veteran who was starting his career in finance who then moved on to the automobile sales business. In 1949 Jacqueline married Rayburn W. Fladeboe. In 1951 their first child, Candice was born followed by Denice, Bruce and Renae.

Jacqueline was not only there to support Ray during the growth of his business she was a great mother and homemaker for the family. The business grew into multiple dealerships with Jacqueline attending numerous business events with Ray, balancing the finances of a growing business, home and family and later managed the building of a new family home in La Habra Heights and the move of the family into their new community and schools. Like most busy mom’s she was the “taxi” and the “glue” for the family…involved in her children’s scouting, sports, dance and painting classes and more. She was a wonderful seamstress for herself and her daughters teaching the girls to sew and helped in her daughter’s girl scout troop by teaching them sewing of teeny tiny Barbie doll clothes where they obtained their sewing badges. She was also an excellent cook. With all these activities she always had time for friends and family and she loved to take time to play card games, work puzzles or join in a contest of ding, Rummy Tile, Skip Bo, Uno and more, challenging all of us to have fun while trying our hardest to win….she loved to win! Her adventures in Las Vegas playing Blackjack were memorable; always staying up long after everyone else had retired to their rooms. By morning, not a soul was untouched by her wonderful spirit and she often finished ahead.

In addition to the kids, grandchildren were becoming part of the family with the first arrival in 1975. That's when she resumed her modeling career. Although stunning in the photographs, she remained humble.

In 1979 Jacqueline and Ray divorced and she worked very hard to lessen the impact on all of the children. With two of the children off to start their own families the other two at school and jobs she continued to run a home filled with family, friends and good times.

In 1988 Jacqueline and Richard Putney married. He absolutely cherished and adored her. They traveled, enjoyed weekends and holidays at her mountain home in Lake Arrowhead and continued to live in La Habra Heights. More grand children joined the family and then great grandchildren.

On a visit to New York she attended an early performance of the off Broadway show the "Blue Man Group". Unexpectedly, the Blue Men climbed from the stage over the top of the small audience to where she was sitting and proceeded to lightly examine her exceptionally beautiful thick full head of blond hair while crouched on the back of her theatre seat. Then one of them looked her in the eye for several moments and to everyone’s surprise he came in very close to her face, nose to nose, put a very wet blue paint thumbprint on her elegant forehead. He turned and climbed back over the top of the audience on to the stage. At first she didn't know what to do then she got tickled and in typical Jacqueline style she laughed with that wonderful laugh of hers, part giggle, a laugh we all will remember forever! Almost like when she told the story of her mom and the "shoes"...you had to be there...she would laugh till she cried!

Sadly, Richard passed away in 2003. She missed him dearly. Jacqueline then moved to Laguna Niguel to be closer to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Now well established as the Great Matriarch, Jacqueline spent many happy days devoted to her family enjoying school events, graduations, holidays and travels.

Jacqueline, with her beautiful heartfelt laugh, modesty and wonderful common sense will be greatly missed. In the words of one of her grandchildren, “Grandmother, we are so lucky to have been blessed with such an elegant, graceful and wise soul. You will never be forgotten! “

Jacqueline is survived by her brother Terry and sister Shirley. Children; Candice Kaltenbach (Eric), Denice Fladeboe Mock (Brian), Bruce Fladeboe (Carrie), Renae Fladeboe Kline Wilkinson (David).

Grandchildren; Chelsea Burns Stivers Huycke Geyer, Ryan Burns (Aline), Lindsay Mock Galen (Reed) Nicole Fladeboe McNeilly (Scott), Adam Fladeboe, Isabel Fladeboe, Madison Kline, Ryan Wilkinson, Kelsey Wilkinson.

Great Grandchildren; Kailee Stivers (19), Oliver (12), Eliott (11) & Bixby (10) Huycke, Kennedy Geyer (6 mos), Dylan (6) & Tessa (4 ) Galen, Lilly (3) & Sienna (1) Burns

In lieu of flowers a gift fund has been set-up in her name, Jacqueline Fladeboe Putney, for St Jude Children’s Research Hospital. http://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR/GiftFunds/GiftFunds?px=4374377&pg=personal&fr_id=39300