Obituary of Olive Joan Sallee

Joan Sallee, 77, of Niles, Michigan (formerly of Bakersfield CA) was ushered away from this life here on earth to her Lord and Savior on September 25, 2011 at 10 am. Joan was born on March 7, 1934 to the late Harold and Gladys (Buescher) Oliver in Sparta, Illinois. She was married to Ansel "A.J." Sallee, August 29, 1953 at a ceremony in El Paso, Texas. They shared 58 wonderful years of marriage together, raising their family of 4 children, 5 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. After their children were a little older, Joan returned to college to realize her life-long dream of becoming a nurse. Nursing was a career that she was passionate about, and she loved being a nurse every day that she worked. She was well-loved by her patients and respected by her co-workers. She always put her patient's first, with many of her co-workers remarking that Joan never walked to her patients, but rather ran to them. At home, she was a devoted wife to her husband, and a loving mother to their children. Her husband often raved that she was "the best cook in the world." She was also talented in handcrafts and sewing. She was an excellent seamstress and was honored to sew both of her daughters' wedding gowns herself. As a woman of God, she was devoted to her spiritual life and reading the Bible daily. In addition to working and traveling overseas with her husband, they also took mission trips to foreign countries to accomplish what they felt God had called them to do. She is preceded in death by her parents Harold Oliver and Gladys Johnston, her sisters Ruth and Judith, her brother Richard "Jack" Moyser, and her brother James McLoy. Joan is survived by her husband A.J. Sallee of Niles, Michigan; her daughter Patricia Scott and husband Pat Scott of Niles, Michigan; son Harold "Buck" Sallee of Bakersfield, Ca; son Scott Sallee of Fresno, Ca; daughter Paula Sallee-Robinson and husband Scott Robinson of Bakersfield, Ca; grandchildren Marc Scott, Matthew Scott, Nicole Sallee, Jaime Sallee-Nadal, and Bradley Robinson, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her sister Margaret Snapp of Park Hill, Oklahoma, brother Richard McLoy of Lucerne Valley, Ca, and sister Georgeanne Paris of Post Falls, Idaho.