Jill Anne Atkinson 08/5/66 – 10/12/21
Jill Atkinson passed away at her home in Easley, South Carolina on Oct. 12, 2021 after a courageous eight-month battle with multiple myeloma. She was born in Encino, California on Aug. 5, 1966 to William Gerard and Jessie Cohen. Jill moved to the Redding area as a young child where she graduated from Enterprise High School.
In 1990, she married Jeff Atkinson and they settled in Susanville and she was actually able to put up with his nonsense for the next 30+ years, she truly deserved a medal!
Jill went to work at the Lassen County Times, where she worked for nearly 30 years, eventually becoming advertising director and general manager.
In 1997, Jill was blessed to become a proud mom to twin sons, Jacob and Jordan, and there was nothing in her life that gave her greater joy than being a mom to her two sons. Jill was an extraordinary cook as many of her friends, family and co-workers can attest to. If you were in her house, she was going to feed you and sometimes, even if you were not in her home as recipients of the annual Christmas cake deliveries will recall.
An avid water skier, she was always up for a trip to the lake. Jill always stayed busy, becoming a very active member of the Lassen High School football and basketball booster clubs and eventually a member of the Blue Star Moms organization when Jordan enlisted in the Army.
In 2018, Jill and Jeff moved to South Carolina, where they were able to attend many Clemson football games, enjoy seeing new places and making new friends and, of course, Jill had a whole new crowd to cook for.
Jill is survived by her husband Jeff and sons Jacob and Jordan; fathers William Gerard (Debra) and Jay Garrett; brothers Bill Gerard (Becky), Roger Garrett (Nancy), and Jeffrey Garrett (Susan) along with many other much-loved extended family members and her ever present shadow, Ozzie. She was preceded in death by her mother Jessie Garrett, brother Michael Garrett (Katie) and her beloved Granny G.
Jill’s family would like to thank everyone for the calls, texts, flowers and messages Jill received during her illness. They truly brightened her spirits during some difficult times. If desired, memorial donations may be made in Jill’s memory to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation www.tunnel2towers.org, an organization close to her heart or the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation
www.mmrf.org
