Jessie M. DeVries

Longtime Palmer resident Jessie M. DeVries, 94, passed away July 7, 2015, at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center as the result of an infection.

A memorial service is at 2 p.m., July 14 at United Protestant Presbyterian Church, 713 S Denali, Palmer.

Jessie was born Aug. 9, 1920, in Gildford, Montana, to Loren and Carrie Brown. She graduated from Havre High School May 1938. She attended Deaconess School of Nursing in Bozeman, Montana, graduating May 1941. After working in the hospital in Havre for a year, Jessie attended Linville College in McMinnville, Oregon, where she worked as the college nurse in exchange for room, board and tuition for a year.

While working at the hospital in Havre, Jessie met John DeVries. They were married June 11, 1943, in the home in which Jessie was born in Gildford, Montana. They moved to Circle, Montana, where John had a teaching job.

Also while working at the hospital in Havre, Jessie became intrigued by stories of Alaska told to her by one of her patients. She, John and their 11-month-old son David moved to Alaska in 1945 and settled in Palmer, eventually building their home on Lazy Mountain. They had two more sons and 1 daughter.

While raising her children, she volunteered at Valley Hospital, and in 1952 she went to work at the hospital part-time. From 1958 to 1963 Jessie worked as the nurse at Dr. Hume’s office, from 1964 to 1970 she worked at Valley Hospital again and in 1971 she began working for Dr. Ivey. Many people in the Valley have had the benefit of her medical care as well as her therapeutic touch. She retired from nursing in 1976.

Jessie and John both joined the United Protestant Church shortly after arriving in Palmer and continued to worship and support the church until their deaths. Jessie served as an elder, trustee, church historian, sang in the choir and served as part time secretary. She was also very involved in the Presbyterian Women Assoc. and Presbytery of the Yukon.

Jessie volunteered at the schools and helped both children and adults to learn to read. She even taught home economics in Jamaica when John volunteered to teach on a work farm there.

Jessie gave generously of her time, especially after her retirement. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren especially remember the time she spent with them. She volunteered at Habitat for Humanity and the Palmer Food Bank. She was a member of the Palmer Historical Society and the Palmer Senior Center, where she served on the Board of Directors for some time.

Jessie moved from her Lazy Mountain home into Palmer shortly after John died. When a surgical procedure at the age of 79 left her paralyzed from the waist down she adapted with her usual good spirit and determination, managing to live on her own for two years. Then she moved to the Alaska Veterans and Pioneers Home in Palmer where she continued to live a full and contented life from her wheelchair. She served on the Resident Council, and played pinochle with a group of friends.

Jessie was an avid reader. Her children and grandchildren especially remember her reading to them. She also enjoyed gardening, playing her autoharp and doing the crossword puzzle every day. Many members of the community remember her for the water wells that she “witched” for them.

Jessie’s family wrote, “We are indeed fortunate to have such an amazing spirit as our mother and grandmother. She led by example, gave good advice, told lots of stories and was completely accepting of all of us. She touched our souls and left us a great legacy of love. She’ll always be with us.”

Jessie is survived by her sons, Andrew (Dawn) DeVries of Grants Pass, Oregon, John (Marilyn) DeVries Jr. of Vancouver, Washington; daughter, Marie (Roy) Keen of Palmer; sister, Phoebe (Doyal) O’Dell of Valkeakoski, Finland; brothers, Arnold (Harriet) Brown of Flagstaff, Arizona, Dwight (Leora) Brown of Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada; sisters-in-law, Rose Brown of Vancouver, Washington and Chris Brown of Fairfield, California; grandchildren, Jennie Wyatt, Doug Burgan, Randy Moffitt, Krystal Moffitt, Eric Moffitt, Trina Arthur, Jason Mitchell, Megan McUne, Breann Basinger, Tristan Mitchell, Peter Stutheit, Sarah Sherwood, and Jacob Stutheit; 31 great grandchildren; 11 great, great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, John; her son, David and his wife Cheryl; her granddaughter, Barbara Morin; and her brothers, George, Edwin, Floyd and Robert Brown.

The family asks that donations be made to the United Protestant Presbyterian Church, 713 S Denali, Palmer, Alaska, in lieu of flowers.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Kehl’s Palmer Mortuary.