Jess Albert Burgett was born on January 13, 1892, in the area of Hennessey, Kingfisher County, Oklahoma Territory, and died on November 13, 1949, in Bremerton, Kitsap County, Washington. He was the oldest child of Cornelius Albert "Neal" Burgett and Louise (Louisa) Stalder. His parents came to the area at the time of the Oklahoma Land Rush and settled on land near Columbia Township, Kingfisher County, Oklahoma Territory. Sometime between 1902-1904, the Burgett family moved on to Sharon, Barber County, Kansas, where Jess' grandfather (Cornelius Burgett) had established a blacksmith shop with his sons (Burgett and Sons Blacksmiths). Jess grew up in Sharon, Kansas, and in 1912 married Susan Violet "Susie" George, a young lady who have arrived in Sharon, Kansas in 1910 with her sister, Ruby Pearl George. The George girls had grown up in an orphanage in Xenia, Ohio, though they were not orphans, but their being placed in the orphanage was the result of their parents separating and the mother was not able to support and care for her many children without the help of the father. Jess and Susie became the parents of 8 children, 4 boys and 4 girls. Their first child, a son, was born in Sharon, Kansas, in 1913, but by the time their second child (a daughter) was born in 1915, the Burgett family had moved to Bristow, Creek County, Oklahoma. They remained in Bristow for several years before relocating to Las Vegas, San Miguel County, New Mexico, for about two years (1922-1924), and had returned to Bristow, Oklahoma by 1926. By 1943, due to many factors (Oklahoma Dust Bowl, effects of the Depression of the 1930's, and WWII), they came to California and resided in Woodlake, Tulare County, California. In 1945, Susie became ill and passed away, leaving Jess with two teenage sons to finish raising. Susie had always wanted to go to Washington State where her sister Ruby had moved to from Kansas. Jess, being a widower, took the two young boys, and along with some of his older children, made the move to Port Orchard, Kitsap County, Washington, settling near Ruby and her family. After only 4 years in Washington, Jess met with an accident while working on his car and succumbed to his injuries. Since Susie was buried in San Diego, California (where she had gone for treatment of her illness and died during surgery), the family had Jess interred alongside his beloved Susie in San Diego. Though far from home where they first started their lives together, they rest in peace side by side for eternity. [RS]