Juanita Bessie Getchell; Artist

Juanita Bessie Getchell, a professional artist whose paintings sold in the United States and Europe, died Tuesday in Lancaster. She was 68.

Mrs. Getchell began oil painting in 1975 and studied for a year under Millie Funk, a Western artist in California City. She painted original works and did some contract paintings that sold worldwide, her husband, Robert, said. One of her last paintings, “Route 66,” depicted her family’s venture west from Mississippi in the 1930s.

She continued painting even when a kidney ailment forced her to undergo dialysis eight years ago, even taking her easel and paints to the hospital with her while receiving treatment. She died of heart failure related to her kidney disease, her husband said.

Born Juanita Bessie Laws on Sept. 11, 1921, in Dennison, Tex., she worked as a telephone operator at the Sacramento Bee from the early 1960s to 1976. She was a member of the Allied Arts Assn. of Lancaster for about 10 years.

Mrs. Getchell is survived by her husband of 10 years; a son, Rick Copeland of Sacramento; and a daughter, Kimberly Copeland of Sacramento. Donations may be sent in Mrs. Getchell’s name to the Kidney Foundation of Southern California.

A memorial service is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Halley-Olsen Funeral Chapel, 44802 N. Date Ave. in Lancaster, which is handling the arrangements. Burial will be in Nevada City, Calif.