Pearlie Mae Feldman and two granddaughters, baby Marissa and Amber. The picture was taken in Chicago Park in 1989. (Photo Submitted to The Union)

Pearlie Mae Feldman loved to help others.

"I've never seen someone so giving," her son-in-law Mike Jewell said Thursday outside the Chicago Park house where Feldman lived for three decades.

"She was just an extremely kind and gentle lady," said Linda Benoit of Penn Valley, recalling how Feldman had helped her care for her three daughters when the family lived near Feldman's house near Chicago Park School.

Feldman, one of three people shot dead in a shooting rampage on Wednesday, was also remembered as a doting grandmother.

"Her grandchildren were her hobby," said Jewell, a Nevada County sheriff's deputy. "They were her pride."

Jewell's wife, Robinette, was particularly close to her mother. The couple lived next door to Feldman and her husband, Emil.

Feldman was a familiar figure at Chicago Park School, where 11-year-old granddaughter Marissa is a student.

"Whenever there was an activity at the school, she was there," said Principal George Olive.

Marissa's 14-year-old sister, Amber, attends Nevada Union High School.

Feldman cared for other children as well, Jewell said.

"She could always be counted on to help anyone in need, whether it was taking kids to school functions, birthday parties or watching them for various reasons," Jewell said. "She will be missed."

She moved to Chicago Park from Tennessee in the early 1960s.

Besides her husband and daughter, Feldman is survived by two other sons who live in Santa Rosa and in Sacramento. Feldman also has three other grandchildren, two in Santa Rosa and one in Sacramento.

A memorial fund to assist the family of Laura Wilcox has been started at Placer Sierra Bank in Penn Valley. Donations can be sent to the Laura Wilcox Memorial Fund at P.O. Box 359, Penn Valley, 95946. For more information, contact the bank at 432-1181.

The public can sign register books for the three victims who died in the shootings, which are at Chapel of the Angels, 250 Race St., Grass Valley. The books can be signed Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 273-2446 for more information.

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