Jessie Grant Batt – Teacher and Gardener

Jessie Grant Batt passed away on November 24, 2002 in Santa
Rosa. Born on July 27, 1911, in Manchester, Mendocino County,
Jessie was the second child in a family of 13. When she was two
years old, Jessie’s family moved to Point Arena to a dairy ranch
where she grew up and went to school. Jessie graduated from San
Jose State College in 1933 with a Bachelors Degree and a teacher’s
credential. Her first teaching job was in Greenwood, now known as
Elk, in Mendocino County. Jessie taught in several one-room schools
on the North Coast. In 1936, she married Leonard Batt and lived in
Healdsburg for more than 50 years. The couple resided on ranches
where they raised sheep and grew prunes, hops, and grapes. Among
her hobbies were raising animals and tending to a large garden.
Jessie spent many hours cooking and canning the many kinds of
produce that she grew and she was an accomplished quilt maker and
artist. She was president of the Healdsburg Art Club and a
volunteer teacher at St. John’s Catholic School. She attended the
Santa Rosa Symphony for many years of musical enjoyment. Jessie’s
last teaching position was at St. Eugene’s Catholic School. Jessie
also managed the antique store in Healdsburg called “Sallie’s
Attic” for five years before retiring. Jessie is survived by her
daughters, Mary Anne Batt Gilles of Novato, and Monica Batt Brisbin
of Sebastopol, her grandchildren Robert Gilles of Novato, John
Gilles of San Francisco, Patrick Gilles of Mill Valley, Tammy
Thompson of Texas, and five great-grandchildren. She is also
survived by her brothers and sisters Bessie Richardson, Agnes
Fernandez, Arthur Grant and James Grant. Friends are invited to
attend a Memorial Service at the Vineyards Commons, 3583 Round Barn
Boulevard in Santa Rosa on Wednesday, December 4, 2002 at 9 a.m. A
private entombment will be held at Santa Rosa Memorial Park.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Santa Rosa Symphony in
memory of Jessie Grant Batt, 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa,
CA 95403.