Johnnie V Gitchel

Johnnie V Gitchel went home to Jesus on May 26, 2019 at the age of 92.

She is survived by her three daughter: Donna Jo Hoskins, Brenda Kay Russo and Sandra Dean Reinig, 9 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren.

Johnnie was born to John W and Maggie Allen on October 2, 1926 in Ringling, Oklahoma. Her mom passed away when she was only 8 years old. It was tough times, but she had the love of her 5 siblings; Henry, Flora, JD, Pauline and her baby sister Jean.

Johnnie finished the 10th grade when World War II broke out in 1941. She being strong willed quit school and went to work for the Army driving trucks. Amazingly, she lied about her age and at the time did not have a drivers license. It was a few weeks before her family found out.

At age 19 Johnnie met her future husband Joe B Olive at a dance in Blythe, California. She had gone to stay with her sister while she recovered from an appendectomy. She and Joe were married three weeks later on May 17, 1945 in Quartzsite, Arizona and lived in Clovis until he passed.

Johnnie moved her family to Martinez, CA at the end of 1963 where she met Casey E Gitchel. They were Married in Wasco, CA on July 8, 1967. She had the honor of her two sisters being with her on her wedding day.

Johnnie had worked in the restaurant industry most of her life, until she got hurt. In 1981 she went back to school and earned her GED. In 1983, she started Able Care, an in-home care service. She was at home when she received a call from a family whom she was friends with, they were in need of her help for her husband and did not know what to do. Johnnie knew a woman who did home care and needed a job, so she put them together. The next day she went to the City Business Office and she applied for a business license, She started Able Care with one client and built it up from there.

After Casey passed in 2005 , Johnnie moved to Rocklin to be near her two older daughters. She bought a mobile home and was quite happy until illness struck in 2011. Realizing that she was in need of help she moved in with her daughter Brenda until her passing.

Johnnie was an amazing woman. She was funny, friendly, hard working and fearless. She was business minded and quick thinking. She was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother. She would do anything for her grandchildren, but expected them to do their best. They all loved and adored her for it. She never met a person she couldn't talk to.

Her faith in Jesus was unstoppable. One of her amazing rituals was writing a prayer when she was worried about a loved one. Praying to Jesus to guide them on the right path and keep them safe, She praised and thanked Jesus when her prayers were answered, At one time or another she prayed for each and every one of her family members.

She was loved deeply and will be missed.