Obituary of Jennie Mae Stearley

Jennie Mae Stearley, 95, passed away April 11, 2019, after a short illness. Jennie was born on September 13, 1923, in Stearleyville, Indiana, to Sam and Mary (McMichael) Stearley. She graduated from Brazil High School in 1941 and attended nurses training at Union Hospital in Terre Haute, Indiana. She served in the Army as a nurse in World War II. After her service, she attended Indiana University to further her nursing career. Later she served as a volunteer nurse for approximately three years in Afghanistan at the U.S. Embassy. After her service there, she returned to Portland to make her home. She worked as a county health nurse in the Portland area for many years. She enjoyed gardening and tending her roses, and she loved her dogs. She also spent time traveling around the United States as well as to other countries. She was lovingly known as “Sweet Pea” by her family. She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister Gertrude Stevenson, brother and sister in law Clyde and Coleen Stearley, and nephew’s Jeffery Stearley and Patrick Stearley. She is survived by brothers Richard (Gynelle) Stearley and Wilbur (Sharon) Stearley, nieces and nephews Phillis Maurer, Katherine Lee, Martha Maurer, Mary Wicker, Mike Stearley, Peggy Hill, Kathleen Gregory, Annie Moss, Molly Stearley, Cindy Scruggs, Sam Stearley, and Scott Stearley. Arrangements are being handled by Crown Memorial Center and burial is at the Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon.