Jean Rhodes-Harmon passed away on June 16, 2006 in the comfort of her home in Hesperia, California surrounded by her loving family. Jean is survived by three daughters, Judy Brown of Hemet; Leslie Rhodes (husband Kirk Melton) of Hermosa Beach; and LeAnn Rhodes-Deverson of Hesperia; two sons, Steve Blaisdell (wife Margie) of Marietta, Texas; Butch Rhodes (wife Sheri) of Barstow; two step-sons, Mike Harmon (wife Cindy) of Lincoln, Nebraska; and Lee Harmon (wife Evelyn) of Newberry Springs; Grand children, Kelly Vernola, Hope Robichaud, Corrie Sahlstrom, Billy Rhodes, Amanda Deverson and Raushan Melton. (Hanks Grandkids are hers too), many loved great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and her church family members. Jean was preceded in death by her step-son William Barton Rhodes who died in Vietnam in 1971. Born Wanda Jean Lawless on May 24, 1925 in the small town of Kosse, Texas to Blanch "Babe" (Harris) and Arthur M. "Mutt" Lawless. Babe died when Jean was 5 years old. Mutt later married Lois Lawless and she helped raise Jean and her brother Murlin. Jean would spend most her youth and young adult life in Texas before moving to California, Jean moved to Barstow in the early 1950's and while working at Fort Irwin National training Center met and later married Barstow National Guardsman Bill Rhodes, a Veteran of the Korean War. Together they built and operated Barstow Tire & Brake until 1975 when they moved to Apple Valley, California for a short period of time before moving back to Jean's home State of Texas where Bill could pursue his dream of being a rancher. During this time Jean worked at Red River Army depot until she retired from Civil Service. In 1992, while visiting family and friends in California, Bill was diagnosed with brain cancer and soon after passed away leaving wife and best friend (soul mate) Jean after 36 years of marriage. Jean later married Henry "Hank" Harmon (Bill's widowed brother-in-law) a 22 year decorated WWII war veteran who served with the U. S. Navy Air Corps. In 2003 Hank was diagnosed with lung cancer would pass on that same year. During the ten years they spent together, Jean and Hank traveled to five foreign countries and throughout the United States and became very active in the Hesperia United Methodist Church. After the loss of Hank, Jean continued her activities with the church where her strong faith in God inspired many.
Desert Dispatch
Sunday, June 18, 2006