The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Jeanne Ellen (Tiedje) Easterling was born on January 5, 1932, in Tucson, Arizona, to William David Tiedje and Lucile Margaret (Ewer) Tiedje.

Her family moved to Creswell, Oregon, in 1943, where she attended Creswell schools. She was an excellent student — serving in many leadership roles — and graduated in 1949.

In 1955 she married Paul Topf and had two children. In 1967, she married Jerry Easterling and they had a daughter. Together she and Jerry moved to Grand Ronde, where they raised their family and lived on a farm for over 30 years. After Jerry retired, they eventually settled in Sisters.

Jeanne had the rare gift of perfect pitch, and enjoyed both vocal and instrumental music. She was an accomplished pianist and accompanied many school and church choirs, played for numerous weddings and funerals, and many family gatherings.

She was also an excellent secretary and bookkeeper. She worked for State Farm for many years, the Holt Adoption Agency (which originated in Creswell), and for watercolor artist Judy Buswell. Judy used Jeanne’s beautiful handwriting for the messages inside her lovely illustrated greeting cards.

Jeanne was a great cook and excellent baker — and was famous for her chocolate chip cookies. When people walked into her kitchen that was sometimes the first thing they looked for!

She was also an avid reader, often reading several books at a time, and loved playing pinochle, doing crossword puzzles, and she cherished time spent with family.

Jeanne is preceded in death by her husband, Jerry Easterling, and her sister, Betty Gilman.

She is survived by her three children, Susan Mason of Camas, Washington; Steve Topf of Newberg; and Leith Easterling of Sisters; six grandchildren; and her sister, Barbara Few, of Creswell.

Jeanne was a loving sister, wife, mother, grandmother and faithful friend. She will be deeply, deeply missed.

A private family service will be held at a later date.