JOYCE VALENTINE (SHELLY) JARRETT
1928 - 2022
Joyce Valentine (Shelly) Jarrett passed away, peacefully, at 94, with family at her bedside, on Dec. 14, 2022, into the arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Joyce was born to Alfred and Esther (Olds) Shelly, on March 15, 1928, in Bishop, California. She was preceded in death by her beloved brother, William (Bill) Shelly, her precious parents, and husbands Rusty (M.P.) Springer, Andreas Auer and Paul Jarrett, in addition to many uncles, aunties and cousins.
Joyce leaves behind her son, Michael Springer and wife, Elena; daughters, Susan (Springer) Felthoven and husband, Barry; Shelly (Springer) Kaplan and husband, Michael; Lisa (Auer) King and husband, Rick; Cathy (Jarrett) Perea and husband, Tim and Tammy (Jarrett) Beggs. She dearly loved her 19 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren, her niece, Debra (Shelly) Bradley, nephews Tony, Billy and Ralph Shelly and children and families of her cousins, the Vassers, Olds and Beauregards.
Joyce was born into a family of pioneers of the Owens Valley. On her father’s side (Kispert/Shelly), her great-grandfather arrived in 1859. He purchased land, south of Independence, from a Paiute man named George; later he named this area George’s Creek. Following this, John Kispert travelled to Minnesota, brought back a wife and settled in the Independence area. The Kisperts built an adobe home, one of the few that survived the 7.9 earthquake of 1872. The Kispert family helped care for the many who were injured and survived the quake. Joyce’s grandfather, Allie Shelly, moved to Bishop and purchased acres of land in what is now the Fairgrounds. In addition to being a beekeeper (which he began at the age of 14!), he started his own business, hauling butter, milk and beef to the mining towns of Goldfield and Tonopah, driving his large wagon pulled by four horses! The trip took four days each way as he made stops in various towns. The Shelly family’s land, home, orchards and water rights were confiscated during the “Water Wars.” Her father, Alfred Shelly, was a hardworking man; in addition to being a beekeeper, he worked as a butcher at Josephs. He was joined by his wife, Esther, who worked there as a cashier! When Joyce was a teen, her parents purchased and operated the Rainbow Pack outfit near South Lake.
On her mother’s side, Joyce’s great-grandfather, David Olds, was a Judge at the Inyo County courthouse. Her grandfather, Charles Olds, became Sheriff in Lone Pine, after the family moved from Goldfield because their hotel burned down. In addition to working in the Tungsten Mines, the Olds lived in a canvas tent, somehow surviving the harsh winters. Mr. Olds also drove the mail route from Bishop to Tonopah to Warm Springs College. In later years, her uncle, Manny Olds, took the route, then cousin, Mitch Vassar.
Joyce learned to ride horses with her grandfather, Charles Olds, at the age of 3. It became a passion for life. She enjoyed staying with her cousins at Laws and would describe the excitement in the evenings as the Silver Princess train pulled in. It was so loud, according to Joyce, it felt like an earthquake when it arrived: The sparks would light up the darkness!!!
Joyce attended Bishop Union Elementary and High School, graduating in 1946. Following this, she trained to be a nurse and worked for many years at the Northern Inyo Hospital.
In the winters, Joyce loved to sled, ice skate, and ski and was so graceful. She was the only girl on the boy’s High School Ski Team! Joyce won rifle competitions and always found time to fish, which was one of her greatest joys in life, along with painting, reading, gardening, hiking, gathering pine nuts, going to the casino and four-wheeling some of the roughest, rocky roads. She was adventurous, and above all, loved to have FUN! The majestic mountains were such a part of her life, embedded into her heart and soul.
Our Mama lived a simple life, loved Jesus, attended church and sang in the choir with her glorious soprano voice! At home, she would entertain us by singing silly songs to make us laugh. She had a quick wit and an incredible sense of humor.
In her later years, she began to “spread her wings” and paint again, while also travelling. She went to Branson, MO with a friend and took a cruise to Canada. These were happy times!!
At 90, she moved to Visalia, to be closer to family and was taken care of in a wonderful home called “Glory Days” where she met new friends, starting drawing again, doing puzzles and enjoyed the “tropical paradise.” During her time there, Joyce was given the most excellent, loving care until her last breath of life. We have so much gratitude for those that worked there; each one touched her life in a very special way. Her family was deeply blessed by these “angels” that were lent to us for nearly 5 years!
Joyce will be dearly missed by her family and loved ones. Her smile, her sweet and gentle disposition, her love of family is the legacy she will leave for many generations to come.