Florence – Jessie Sanderson Lunceford, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother, passed away peacefully at the age of 100. She was born on February 19, 1925 to George and Nellie Sanderson in Worland, Wyoming, the youngest of seven children, and moved to Pioneer, Montana at the age of 5. She often told the story of panning for gold with her dad during the summer she turned 12.
Jessie attended and graduated high school in Deer Lodge. In March of 1943, she met Ernie Lunceford, whom she would marry on October 30th of that year, just two months before he had to go into the Navy to serve in World War II. He got home on Christmas Eve in 1944. She said that was the best day of her life. They had their two daughters, Shari and Denice, while living in Deer Lodge, then moved to a small ranch in Florence in 1951, where Cody and Joe joined the family.
Jessie raised a large garden and canned everything she could, helped milk cows, care for chickens, haul wood, and put up hay—for a few years the old-fashioned way, with a team of horses. During the mid-sixties, she was also Florence’s “Avon Lady.”
Jessie began working at the Florence Post Office, where she served as a clerk, mail carrier, and eventually Postmaster for five years. She made many lifelong friends during her years at the post office.
After she and Ernie retired, they began wintering in California at the Fountain of Youth Spa, where they enjoyed horseshoes and card games. She and Ernie won many trophies pitching horseshoes. Jessie loved the Spa so much she continued going even after Ernie’s passing in 1998.
She crocheted countless afghans, dish cloths, and other handmade treasures for family and friends, sometimes creating her own patterns. Her gifts remain cherished reminders of her love.
In addition to four children, Jessie and Ernie have 15 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren, and 12 great-great-grandchildren. She is survived by her four children, Shari (Denny) Edwards of Florence, Denice (Roger) Rummel of Scottsdale, AZ, Cody (Liz) Lunceford of Stevensville, MT, and Joe (Judy) Lunceford of Troy, MT. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.whitesittfuneralhome.com.