Emma Jean Atkin
ATKIN, Emma Jean (81), passed away at home in Arcadia, California on February 28, 2008. A remarkable woman; accomplished artist, community leader, professional, and an amazing homemaker. Her family was her life around which all other aspirations were made to fit. She met each day, engaged, and with a resolve and a commitment that left us wondering how she could do it all.
She never missed sending cards or remembering important events.
Her family, her friends and her
adopted extended family were so loved by her. They knew, absolutely, that someone always cared about and loved them unconditionally."
Her strength and courage, her love, compassion and friendship have been shared with so many during her lifetime. A lot could be said about her professional and community accomplishments, and they are many, but it was her uncanny way of being so real, of connecting and sharing, of being a wife,
being mom, grandma, great grandma, Aunt Jean, and just being Jean that was her most beloved legacy.
Born and raised in the Midwest, Jean moved to California in 1953 with her husband and their young family.
Wilmington and Carson, California were home for the next 20 years where she and Willard raised their three girls.
In 1976 Jean and Will moved to Lake of The Woods in the mountains that they both loved.
There she worked for, and later retired from, the Kern County Sheriff's Department. For 25 years
this was her home until moving to Sierra Madre in 1996 where for seven years she brought the Pinny House to life. They moved to Arcadia in 2003.
Though she will be profoundly missed, we will continue to love her and carry her in our hearts always. She rests in peace and love. Jean is survived by Willard, her husband of 61 years; her children Carolyn (Lloyd) Gardner, Shirley (Claude) Farris, and Kathay (David) Edmondson;
her grandchildren Jill (Zack) Sweaney,
Joanna Gardner,
Matthew Woolsey, Sean (Vanessa) Clouser,
Brian Farris; great-grandsons Mitchell, Tanner
and Cody and great-granddaughter Savannah.