Martha Jean Findlay, 93, of Roseville, California, passed away on Saturday, November 26, 2016.Jean was born June 13, 1923 in Hollister, California to Bruce C. Hill and Martha A. (Shore) Hill. She and her twin sister were the first and second of four children. They were raised on the Oak Hill Ranch off of Old Airline Road. Jean was a descendant of proud California pioneers. Traveling overland in an early wagon train, the first members of the family arrived in the Mountain View area in 1851. The family has been in the Hollister area since 1870.Jean graduated San Benito County High School in Hollister with her twin Elizabeth A. Betty Hill on June 13, 1941. Together they traveled north on the train to attended Oregon State College in Corvallis, Oregon in 1941. Jean met her future husband, Donald G. Don Findlay, while at OSC. They were married Dec. 21, 1943 in the St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Paicines, CA. Betty served as her maid of honor. When Don shipped off to Europe during WWII, Jean stayed busy raising her first child and was an active member of the Aircraft Warning Service (AWS), the civilian arm of the Army’s Ground Observer Corps. With extensive training in aircraft identification, she spent many shifts as her investment in the war effort. After the war Jean and Don were blessed with two more children. They followed Don’s career with stops in Portland, OR; Los Gatos, Saratoga; Sacramento, Mountain View and Roseville, California. She was a wonderful, sweet, fun, spiritual lady that made a huge difference in so many lives. Her reach was far and wide with all of her family. We couldn’t have scripted a better life lived. Jean was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Don Findlay, her sister Betty (Hill) Waterman, and a brother Richard F. Dick Hill. She is survived by a brother, John A. Hill; son, Donald G. Findlay Jr (Mary Anne Ratermann); daughter M. Gay Strong (Donald R. Strong, deceased); daughter Denise A. Nelson (John L. Nelson, deceased), six grand children, and six great grand children. Interment will be at the St. Francis Episcopal Church Columbarium in Fair Oaks, CA.
No public memorial service will be held. Cremation will be taken care of by: Simple Traditions Crematorium Fair Oaks Blvd Carmichael, CA 916-488-2894.
