On March 27, 1914, Jessie Roselee was born and raised on a farm in the Oklahoma Panhandle, also known as No Man's Land. Frank Bassett, Jessie's father, homesteaded the farm in the year of 1907 near Texhoma in the Griggs community. Frank and Chlora were united in marriage. To this union, three daughters were born, Jessie, Folsom, and Daisy, also an infant son that passed away at birth. The girls grew up and went to different elementary schools and finished at the Plainview High School. She was a farm girl doing chores normal to the day and times of the early 1900s. Jessie was her dad's right hand man. He knew if he couldn't get it done, she would figure out a way.

A bountiful harvest was always a true blessing. Jessie remembers her dad taking wheat to Texhoma. It would take a day to go and a day to come back. The big hill between home and Texhoma was always a feat to climb especially if the wagon was heavily loaded with grain. Dad would spend the night and head back the next day. They knew when he was close to home when they heard him singing, "Will there be Stars in my Crown".

Other memories include the evening they were riding home in the wagon from the Griggs church/school and saw a grass fire sweeping towards the house. They saved the house by fighting the fire with wet gunny sacks. They kept wet gunny sacks all around the house for several days.

At the age of 14, Jessie remembers getting ready to attend her first party and dance at the Puckett's Place. "When I came into the room Dad was reading his paper, he took his glasses off, looked up at me, and said, Kitty, you look beautiful, but I wish you wouldn't go". I didn't go to the dance that evening, but later met a young boy that loved to dance.

In 1930, Jessie met the love of her life, Elmer Grabeal. He was a striking young man with a beautiful smile and great sense of humor. He stole her heart and she stole his. They enjoyed going to the movies in Texhoma and having parties with friends. They were married on April 25, 1931 and were later baptized together in the cement tank at the home place by Rev. Kennedy. To this union they were blessed with six children, Eleanor Rose, Russell Lynn who passed away as an infant, Martin Lowell, Rex Milton, Linda Lu, and Myra Sue.

Jessie worked side by side with Elmer in the fields and with the livestock, but the garden was also a great joy and a necessity. She siphoned water from the tanks to water the garden and canned food that lasted the year. Jessie's Pig in the Garden Memory:   "Grandmother Grace, Aunt Evelyn Dunn and I were at the old Grabeal Place north of the Marella Cemetery. We decided that the pig that was destroying the garden had to be handled. Evelyn and I caught the pig, but it wasn't until after the fight…. We were covered in dirt and pig muck from head to toe. Gripping the pig tightly, Grace put a ring through the pig's nose and I hooked a rope through the ring. The problem was solved with the pig in the garden. The next day Annett Combs and I killed a dozen chickens and hung them on the clothesline to bleed. By the end of the day, we had them canned and put away".

Jessie's garden, chickens, pigs, and other livestock were how she fed her family. Daily routines included milking cows, churning cream into butter, and making bread. Jessie's young adult life was centered around the Plainview School and the Griggs Church of God. She frequented community potluck dinners, church services and local entertainment at the Plainview School. It was a cherished time with neighbors and friends.

It was during this time that The Great Depression and the Dust Bowl had taken its toll on our country and community. Families left for California to find a better life, but many in her community stayed. Times were very difficult and survival was self- dependent. Ration stamps were issued based on the number of people in the family for flour, sugar, and gasoline. These and other items had to be rationed until the next stamp book was issued. Many people were devastated with the gasoline ration, but Elmer was a US Mail carrier, so gasoline was never an issue for the Grabeal family.

Elmer's health began to decline as he began to lose weight and become weak. He was taken to Shattuck, OK to the Newman Clinic where he was diagnosed with Diabetes. He could not leave the hospital until Jessie could give the Insulin shots and that was very difficult for her to do. The needles were big, about three inches long. They had to be boiled in hot water and sharpened with a whetstone. There was no way to test blood sugars at that time. Jessie would have to decide if Elmer's sugar was high or low and treat him with insulin or sugar. She was a most devoted, loving wife and caregiver.

Because of Elmer's health, Jessie, Elmer, Linda, and Sue moved to Wichita, Kansas. After a short time in the city, her beloved Elmer passed away. Jessie became the owner of the Grand Lane Speed Wash coin operated laundry. She also contracted schools to wash, dry, and fold towels used at their facilities. In addition, Jessie worked in various nursing homes providing care for those in need.

In the early 1990's, Jessie, her daughter Rose and son-in-law Robert, made the move to Oklahoma City. Jessie enjoyed her new home, landscaping a new yard, and hosting many family members for overnight stays. Jessie liked attending church, eating out, attending all the children's birthday parties, school events, graduations, and weddings.

In her later years, she would spend winters in Texhoma and return in spring to care for her yard and flowers. Soon she made her return home to her beloved Oklahoma Panhandle and resided full time with her daughter, Sue Lusk. During this time Sue worked as a pumper for Texaco Oil and Gas. Jessie road many miles in the pickup and helped Sue pump wells. Texaco co-workers hosted company gatherings and picnics and Jessie was considered a part of the company. Sue and Jessie continued to make trips to visit family and celebrate individual milestones. With a family the size of Jessie's, they were continually on the road until the last few months of her life. The angels took Jessie to meet Jesus on Saturday, July 24, 2021. She was 107 years young.

The life and times of Jessie Grabeal did not require wealth or frills. She was a simple lady. She loved God and witnessed to anyone in need of God's peace and mercy. She knew the value of a dollar and took pride and care in every purchase and gift she received. She was a true Boomer Sooner. Family gatherings, Oklahoma Sooners Football, good food, homemade ice cream and a Dr. Pepper were all the wealth needed. And finally, she loved flowers. "The flower is like a good book. It is like a fine wine paired with a special meal on an unforgettable night. The flower is like a great friend who is always there when you need them. Delicate and beautiful yet meaningful and memorable, few can do what the flower can do – year after year, moment after moment". Kind of like Jessie...

She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank Henry and Chlora Rebecca Bassett; her husband, Elmer Grabeal; infant brother; two sisters, Folsom Kendrick and Pat Nichols; son, Russell Lynn; daughter, Eleanor Rose; son-in-law, Robert Castle; son-in-law, Ben Harbaugh; five grandchildren:  Shyrl Bennett, Troy Day, Thad Day, Karen Handley and Kam Smalts; three great grandchildren:  Myra Switzer, Roy Dean Switzer and Jeff Nicholas and two great-great grandchildren, Joslain Steven and Truett Schramm.

Jessie is survived by her daughter, Sue Lusk of Texhoma, granddaughter, Shawna Schramm of Texhoma, Oklahoma and grandson, Lane Smalts and wife Cindy of Cimarron, Kansas; her daughter, Linda Harbaugh of Texhoma, Oklahoma, granddaughter, Belinda Wilkerson and husband, Darrell of Washington, Oklahoma and grandson, Linc Day and wife, Kathy of San Jose, California; her son, Rex Grabeal and wife, Billie Jo of Yukon, Oklahoma and granddaughter, Kristi Hayes of Ponca City, Oklahoma; her son, Martin Grabeal and wife, Bonnie of Texhoma, Oklahoma, granddaughter, Nikki Pugh and husband Matt of Weatherford, Oklahoma, granddaughter, Beth Mason and husband, Roger of Lookeba, Oklahoma, grandson, Robert Castle of Henderson, Nevada, grandson Steve Castle and wife, Veneshia of Spring, Texas, and granddaughter, Debbie Castle of Norman, Oklahoma. Jessie also leaves behind 27 great grandchildren, 34 great-great grandchildren and two great-great-great grandchildren.

Jessie was a member of the Texhoma St. Paul Lutheran Church. Visitation will be Saturday afternoon, July 31, 2021 at 1:00 p.m., with funeral services at 2:00 p.m. at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Texhoma with Pastor Tom House officiating. Interment will follow in the Marella Cemetery, located in Griggs, Cimarron County, Oklahoma.

The Grabeal family requests memorials be given to St. Jude's. Memorials will be accepted at the Bunch - Roberts Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1112, Guymon, Oklahoma 73942. Friends can sign the online guest book and leave condolences at www.bunchroberts.com .