Jennifer Lee Russell

Jennifer Lee Russell, age 45, of Grants Pass, died of cancer on Friday, September 7, 2007 at Royale Gardens Health & Rehabilitation Center.

Visitation will be from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm, Thursday, September 13, 2007 at Hull & Hull Funeral Directors. A celebration of her life will be held at 3:00 pm on Friday, September 14, 2007 at Hull & Hull Chapel. Officiating will be Chuck Kostrna of River Valley Community Church, where Russell was a member.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, Josephine County, 31 W 6th Street, Medford OR 97501.

She was born Jennifer Lee Fleming on September 17, 1961 in Orange, California, to Percy Joseph and Rochelle “Lynne” (Ziske) Fleming. She moved to Grants Pass with her mother in 1965, and attended Allendale Elementary, South Jr. High, and Grants Pass High School, graduating in 1979. She went to Rogue Community College, where she received an Associate of Arts degree in 1985. In 1989, she graduated from Southern Oregon State College (now Southern Oregon University) with a Bachelor of Science Degree and an Associate of Science Degree. She worked at Wendy’s right after high school, becoming assistant manager. Later, she worked at Rogue Community College as an instructor in the business/office technology departments. As a young girl she was active in scouting, from Brownies through Sr. Girl Scouts, earning her Silver Star.

On June 20, 1981, Jennifer Lee Fleming married Mark Alan Russell at Ogle Park, in Grants Pass.

Russell became very active with the Boy Scouts from 1997 until her illness in 2007. She volunteered as an adult leader, was a co-organizer of Cub Pack 80 and Boy Scout Troop 80. She later became committee chair of Troop 77 and held various other positions at the district level. Prior to her illness she helped start Venturing Crew 24 and was instrumental in starting Cub Pack 77. During her illness she was very proud to see her son graduate from Grants Pass High School and earn the rank of Eagle Scout in 2007. She home-schooled her son for several years.

Russell’s hobbies and interests included quilting, pencil puzzles, SCUBA diving, camping, and collecting post cards and buttons. She and her husband loved the ocean and had hoped to settle at the coast upon retirement.

Survivors include her husband, Mark Russell; her son, Kory Russell; her mother, Rochelle “Lynne” Christean; and her foster son, Kris Sutton; all of Grants Pass. She is also survived by her half-brothers; Joe Fleming of North Bend, Washington, and Pat Fleming of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

She was preceded in death by her father, and step-father, Jim Christean, in 2004.