Elizabeth Ann Bennett

Elizabeth Ann (Jacques) Bennett Longtime Ridgecrest resident and retired daycare provider Elizabeth Ann Bennett died Saturday, June 25, 2016 in Garden Grove, California. Known as “Nanny” to many of the children she cared for, she was 85. Elizabeth was born Jan. 12, 1931 in Topeka, Kansas to Julius Buker Jacques and Myrtle Marie (Smith)Jacques. Her family included Julius Buker Jacques Jr. (known as Jack); George Franklin Jacques; Lloyd Marion Jacques; Margaret Louise Jacques; Marvin Burl Jacques; Bonnie Nell Jacques; Sallie Mae Jacques and Judy Sue Jacques. An-other sister, Reba Silveretta Jacques died before Elizabeth was born. She attended schools in Topeka, graduating from Seaman High School in 1949. She married her high school sweetheart, Herbert Dale Bennett on Nov. 11, 1950 and they remained married until his death in 2013. Dale enlisted in the U.S. Navy and Elizabeth became a Navy wife. They lived in Topeka, Kansas; Dearborn, Michigan; and Westminster, California before moving to China Lake in 1967. The family then moved to Ridgecrest in 1972. Elizabeth worked as an Avon lady and a greeting card merchandiser while raising five children with Dale. In the 1980s Elizabeth began a daycare service out of the family home, which continued for more than 20 years. In her spare time, Elizabeth enjoyed tending to the extensive and ever-changing garden at her home and spending time with her children and grandchildren. She attended All Faith Chapel and First Baptist Church in Ridgecrest. Elizabeth is survived by son Gary D. Bennett and wife, Susan, of Yucaipa, California; daughter Gail (Bennett) Noble and husband Larry, of Garden Grove, California; daughter Luella (Bennett) Gatfield of Virginia Beach, Virginia; daughter Kathy (Bennett) Olsowka and husband, John Sperry, of Colorado Springs, Colorado and son John D. Bennett of Ridgecrest, California; nine grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Elizabeth is also survived by sisters Judy Norris of Paola, Kansas and Sallie Myer of Topeka, Kansas; sisters-in-law Brenda Hart, Joyce Radford and Marjorie Jacques, all of Topeka, Kansas and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband Dale; daughter Ellen Fay Bennett; her parents; her four brothers and sisters Margaret and Bonnie. Memorial services will be Monday, July 11, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. at the Davidson Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Elizabeth’s name to a charity of your choosing. davidsonfuneral.com.