June 4, 1920 - Aug. 19, 2009

Jessie Stevens, RST, 89, of Albany passed away Wednesday evening at the From the Heart Adult Care home in Albany.

Jessie was born to Bertram and Annie (Taylor) Stevens in North Monaghan, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. She worked for Dominion Woolens & Worsted from 1936 to 1941, Westclox clock factory from 1941 to 1942, and joined the Canadian Women's Army Corps, where she spent four years.

Jessie later owned and operated the first Women's Taxi Service in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and was a transport driver for the Canadian Red Cross Blood Transfusion service for eight years.

She started seed testing at Canwest Grain under the supervision of Plant Products Division-Canada Government for five years, became a senior member of Commercial Seed Analyst Association of Canada Inc. in 1961 and moved to Fresno, Calif., for employment by Germain's Seed Company. Jessie passed her registered seed technologist (RST) exam in Fort Collins, Colo., in 1963 and was director of Germain's Seed Lab for 16 years. She moved to Moran Seed Company, where she served as the director of the seed lab for five years and retired from the Moran Seed Company in 1982.

Jessie tutored Ellen Mary (MarCo Seed Testing) at Tangent Seed Lab in 1983 and 1984. Jessie and Ellen where great friends and over the years, between her travels, Jessie would live with Jerry "JD" and Ellen Mary. Jessie was a world traveler and visited 59 different countries.

She is survived by numerous nieces and nephews in Canada.

Jessie was preceded in death by both parents and her two brothers.

At Jessie's request, there will be no services.

Memorial contributions to Evergreen Hospice may be made in care of Fisher Funeral Home, 306 Washington St. S.W., Albany, OR 97321 (www.fisherfuneralhome.com).