Jerrylin Ann Abbott
Jerrylin Abbott, 81, of Santa Barbara, California passed away peacefully at her home on January 16, 2026, ending a reignited battle with cancer.
She was born Jerrylin Niedick at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital on September 11, 1944 to Hanns & Bertha (Barneveld) Niediek, who brought her home to 1825 Chapala Street.
In her youth, she proudly participated in the Girl Scouts of the United States of America at all levels, including the Girl Scout Mariners. Later on, she became a Troop Leader, guiding Scouts on adventures including backpacking in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
In 1962, she married Gerald Abbott, with whom she shared three children – Michael, Robert, and Chantel.
She was known for her sense of adventure, completing all levels of Girl Scouts (including Mariners and later leading her own Troops), studying the Bible (before deciding organized religion was not for her), and became a “race mom” and driver in her own right in Baja, CA,
She was one of the owners of A&N Trucking and later held a number of retail positions, but she remembered most-fondly her time at Jordano’s in Montecito, CA.
In the early 1970s, she met her great love, Richard (“RD”) Gardner. She combined her family with RD’s three daughters of his own (Gretchen, Natalie, and September). In 2000, Jerrylin moved with RD to Redding, CA to explore and retire on 18 acres.
After RD’s passing in 2011, Jerrylin returned to Santa Barbara to be closer to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. After returning, Jerrylin embraced adult education courses through Santa Barbara City College. She particularly loved learning glass fusion and sharing her craft with others. She also studied genealogy and connected with her Dutch and German roots.
Jerrylin will be remembered for many things – her tenacity, her love of wine and chocolate, her incredible cooking and the way she shared it, among them. Most of all, she wished to be remembered for her presence and the way she lived in the moment with those she loved.
She is preceded in death by both of her parents and her only brother, Frederick Niedick. She is survived directly by her children and stepchildren, grandchildren (Cale, Stephanie, Catie, Becky, Jennifer, Kerri, Alli, Danny, Jill, Derek, Grace, Zach), great grandchildren (Annabelle, Sage, Thomas, Kennedy, Brodie, Everett, Patrick, and Dylan), extended family, and dear friends. The precise lineage was not determinative; Jerrylin will forever be “Grammy” to all lucky enough to have been loved by her.
A private celebration of life will be held May 10, 2026. In lieu of cut flowers, please consider planting something living in Jerrylin’s honor. She loved little more than nurturing things and watching them grow and enrich the lives of others.
