Jerriann Kay Leslie

Jerriann was born March 28, 1944, in Detroit, Michigan. Her family moved to Arcadia California when she was a young girl. Jerriann was a member of high Arcadia High School marching band; She and her twin sister Joanne were part of the class of 1962. They enjoyed babysitting together as young teens to earn extra money. She married when she was 19. She and her husband had 3 beautiful children. A few years later, they moved to Glendora, CA. She remained in the family home until 2005. She then moved to Knoxville TN to be closer to her son and his family. 

As a single young mom, she was dedicated to her kids’ activities, helping in their classrooms, taking them to ballet, baseball, softball & on rainy days we would sit and play board games or memory games. God blessed her with such artistic talents. She enjoyed hand painting china, painting store front windows for the holidays & even painted murals on her kid’s bedroom walls. She helped her kids with paper routes early in the morning. She worked & went to night school. She was one of the highest Sales associates for her district when she was selling Tupperware. Our mom was a very hardworking, loving, Christian woman. She loved to make quilts for her family, friends, care givers and our veterans. She loved having a twin sister, she would often share stories of her childhood & adult life about the things they did together. One favorite, they would drive in neighborhoods looking for treasures that were tossed out! 

She would enter local & state fairs with her talents such as baked items, crafts, hand paintings, table decorating, quilting & more. She attended and volunteered at her local Church when she was younger. She worked in the Los Angeles School System as a teacher’s aide. She taught us along the way that “Hard work pays off”. She raised us with Christian beliefs and taught us to always lean “On Him”, as she did so often. We would swear sometimes she had a direct line to God.

 Her greatest passions were quilting and giving to the homeless & local shelters. She and her son Chuck had planned to pass out cookies on Christmas eve & wanted to make that a tradition. Each year she sponsored various missions & orphanages, sent funds to build Water Wells in other countries and to help stop Child Trafficking. She also donated to her local Food Banks, Christian ministries and so much more. Her kind heart was an example to follow. One time I asked her; Mom, what was your most favorite job? Her quick answer: “Being a mother was my most fulfilling job ever” She was Love, our mother… Until we are in each other’s arms again. 

Jerriann is survived by her Three Children: Chuck Leslie (Paige), Heather Trujillo (Danny), & Wendy Fuss; fourteen grandchildren: Joshua, Tiffani, Preston, Nathan, Kate, Madison, Cali, Kayleigh, Blakely, Danielle, Tyler, Michael, Laura & Brooke; eleven greatgrandchildren, Ava, Jackson, Charlotte, Tinley, Dalton, Landry, Beckett, Cannon, Georgia, Colton & Kaleb; siblings, Al Barany, Joanne Ottosen & Cindy Stringer; Ten Nephews & Nieces; Loyal Friend, Lynn Blair. 

Family and friends may express their condolences at www.mynattfh.com.