Emma Jean Lindesmith, 1939 - 2002

With his permission, from Terry Mason's Family History Site: http://www.tmason1.com/pafn08.htm#86

Emma Jean (Jeanne) Lindesmith

BIOGRAPHY: Written by her husband Warren and son Craig at the time of Jean's death. 

"Emma Jean Lindesmith was born on April 1st, 1939 to a family whose colorful background is part of the history of Los Angeles.

Her great uncle Cecil Wilcox was a valleyite who in the 1880's started a newspaper in Lankershim (North Hollywood) that later became the Valley Green Sheet. An aunt, Sarah Mason, was one of the first women screenwriters in Hollywood, starting her career in 1918 and later winning an Oscar for her adaptation of "Little Women." Jean's mother, Emma Dee, was a featured dancer with the Fanchon and Marco Dance Company, and appeared in musicals at MGM, Paramount, and Warner Bros. Jean's father, after graduating in the first class of Burbank High School, joined the Prop Department at Universal Studios in 1916. Eventually, he became Secretary-Treasurer of the stagehands IATSE Local 33.

Jeanne grew up in the then small town of Manhattan Beach, and with her sister Elone attended the local schools. Together they enjoyed the simple pleasures of childhood during the '40s and '50s when lifestyles seemed so idyllic. Both sisters were taught how to knit and sew by their mother. Even when young, Jean possessed a sure sense of style, as her hair ribbons always had to match her dress. This talent came in handy later on when she did fashion modeling at Bullocks-Wilshire and Magnins.

After graduating from Mira Costa High School - where she was active in Student Government and was co-captain of the Drill Team, Jean followed her sister to UCLA where she became an Education major.

At UCLA, Jeanne met and married Warren Hamilton. While continuing her education, she became pregnant and after her son Craig was born, Jeanne devoted her time to her expanding family. However, a sculpting class at a local night school reawakened Jean's artistic talent and she never looked back.

After discovering an oddly-shaped lot in Studio City, Jean became intrigued with designing a house that would fit the property. With the help of her husband, and her father and mother-in-law, construction began.

Jean loved the physical activity of building and during the year-long project, her prowess at driving 16d nails while pregnant with her daughter Jenene became the stuff that neighborhood legends are made of. The result was a unique home and the family has lived there ever since.

Jean enjoyed traveling. Yearly treks with her sister to San Francisco and later to England renewed her creative energies and helped Jean to turn her multi-talents to Fiber Art.

A visit to a group called Designing Weavers introduced her to a new world of loom weaving. After joining, her credo became to create "wearable art" from the fabrics she produced. These creations were exhibited and sold throughout Los Angeles.

In 1989, Jeanne was diagnosed with cancer and given four months to live, a prognosis she delighted in proving wrong. She refused to let the disease control her life or her talent. Her creative spirit was her refuge and she never let it go.

Jean approached every project with renewed enthusiasm. She continued to explore new avenues of artistic expression and experimented with an array of items--from hand-wovens to custom clothing to designing and making beaded and knotted jewelry-all unique and one-of-a-kind.

How do you sum up one person's life in words? No matter how poetic, how thesaurical, words can only capture a small part of a person, not the whole part. There are many words to describe Emma Jean Lindesmith Hamilton--creative, compassionate, funny, bright, beautiful, strong. But perhaps the one word that comes closest to capturing her spirit, if there is only one, is determination. It was this determination that offers the clearest picture of Jean--and what she called her Lindesmith Chin." She would make up her mind, dig in her heels, and weather whatever storm the elements tossed her way.

Jeanne was determined to live her life to the fullest--to enjoy every moment that she could and more importantly, help others realize that gift as well. That is perhaps what she was best at--inspiring others to soar, to be all that they were meant to be. She did this through her unwavering belief in their talents and abilities, but most of all through her unlimited and unconditional love.

It is that attitude that we, as her friends and family, are most grateful for as it was applied only with positive thoughts. It was used for good-overcoming adversities, fears, setbacks. Always done with love, warmth, and encouragement. With a hug, a kiss, and most importantly, a smile.

Woven through her life, like the artwork she created, was Jeanne's devotion to her many friendships and her family."