Mae Louise “Babe” Jernegan, 63, longtime resident of Oak Harbor, died at her home Saturday, Aug. 3, 2002, following a battle with cancer.

Mrs. Jernegan was born in Port Angeles Feb. 2, 1939, to Bennie L. Bennett and Louise Amelia (Smith) Bennett Richmond. She was raised in Port Angeles, and graduated from Port Angeles High School. She was formerly married to Roger L. Jernegan, Sr., on March 7, 1958, in Port Angeles. She traveled to Tennessee, Oregon, Hawaii and California, before moving to Oak Harbor in 1968. She enjoyed quilting, crocheting, needlepoint and reading.

Mae (known affectionately by her siblings as “Sister” and by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren as “Memom”) is survived by her four children, Debbie Olson and husband Mike of Covington, Roger “Rusty” Jernegan of Spanaway, Wendy Jernegan, and Dawn Thomas and husband Robert, all of Oak Harbor; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; her parents, Louise “Amy” and William “Bill” Richmond of McMinnville, Ore.; two brothers, Ben Bennett and wife Linda of Coquille, Ore. and James Bennett and wife Denise of Coos Bay, Ore.; three sisters, Diana Stewart and husband Robert of Portland, Ore., Cindy Plummer and husband Rick of McMinnville, Ore. and Penny Wright and husband Dave of McMinnville, Ore.; also, numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father Bennie Bennett in 1950, her baby sister Mabel Bennett in 1940, her brother Eugene Bennett in 1984 and a great-grandson, Mikell Olson in 1999.

A memorial service will be Saturday, Aug. 10, at 1 p.m. at Burley Funeral Chapel, Pastor Harold Veldman officiating. Private inurnment will follow at a later date at Dungenness Cemetery near Sequim. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 1345, Oak Harbor, WA 98277. Arrangements and cremation under direction of Burley Funeral Chapel.