Jessie Winnifred Talbott

Jessie Winnifred Talbott, 94, of Lexington, Nebraska, passed away Friday, May 4, 2012, at Plum Creek Care Center in Lexington. Jessie Winnifred (Winnie) Talbott was born July 30, 1917, to Clay and Alice (Wright) Wallace on the family farm northwest of Lexington, Nebraska. Winnie graduated from Lexington High School and attended Hastings College. After graduation in 1938, she embarked on a teaching career that began in Odessa and Loup City in Nebraska and took her to Iliff, Colorado and Great Falls, Montana. In 1944-45 she was employed at the Cornhusker Ammunition Depot near Grand Island where she helped make bombs during the war. While teaching in Iliff, she met Lyle Phelps Talbott. They were married at the First Presbyterian Church in Lexington on March 31, 1945. Lyle and Winnie farmed near Iliff for several years. They moved to Lexington in 1955 to farm the Wallace home place. Winnie worked part time at Barmore Drug for more than 15 years. She lived independently until September, 2011, when she became a resident of WEL-Life at Plum Creek in Lexington. Winnie was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church, Dorcas and Grace Circles for over 70 years; Chapter AN of the P.E.O. Sisterhood for 72 years; and Lexington rural Kensington Club until it disbanded. Winnie is survived by her sons; Tim (Connie) of Columbus, NE; Sam (Nancy) of Corpus Christi, TX; and Mark of Lexington, NE; her grandchildren, Matthew (Eren) Talbott of Casper, WY; Michael (Lisa) Talbott of St. Mary’s GA; Marci (Jose) Gutierrez of Norfolk, VA; Ben (Heather) Talbott of Lincoln, NE; Dr. Joan Talbott of Henderson, NV; Tom (Sarah) Talbott of Lincoln, NE; Adam (Megan) Talbott of Lincoln, NE; and Shannon Duncan of Bellevue, NE. Also surviving are twelve great-grandchildren; Adrian, Sophie, Kaitlyn, Jacob, Carlie, Cael, and Tucker Talbott, Abriana and Eric Gutierrez; Lane, Eli, and Josh Duncan along with numerous nieces and nephews. Winnie was preceded in death by her husband, Lyle, on July 31, 1987; her parents, Clay and Alice Wallace; siblings, Niles Wallace, Frances Griffith, and Ruth Nisley; and cousin Victor Wright who was raised with the Wallace family. The family honored Winnie’s wishes that her body be cremated. There will be no visitation. Private family burial at Greenwood Cemetery will precede a 1:30 Memorial Service at First Presbyterian Church in Lexington on Saturday, May 12, 2012 with Reverend Caroline Vickery officiating. Memorials are suggested to the First Presbyterian Church, 801 N. Lincoln Street, Lexington, NE. Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is in charge of arrangements. Please direct online condolences to the family through: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com.