When I reflect on my sister Jessica Stickley’s life, I see the many ways she has quietly impacted others. As a sister, mother, friend, and mental health professional, her compassion for people who are often overlooked has always stood out.
I’ve watched Jessica organize school backpack drives, help families in need and perform small acts of kindness without expecting recognition. Our grandmother taught us that kindness doesn’t need an audience, and Jessica has carried that lesson throughout her life.
While working together at Cascade Mental Health, I witnessed her commitment to prevention. Jessica developed a process to examine completed suicides and individuals’ previous contact with mental health services, hoping to identify gaps in care and opportunities for prevention.
She hopes to bring that same approach to the coroner’s office by using death investigation data to identify preventable death trends, strengthen partnerships with first responders and community organizations, provide education and connect grieving families with resources.
But I understand Jessica’s calling through more than her professional experience.
When our grandparents became ill, Jessica helped them navigate medical care, appointments, medications and difficult decisions. She cared for our grandfather during his final months following a stage-four lung cancer diagnosis. Years later, she supported our grandmother through her own battle with cancer.
As our grandmother was dying, I struggled to understand what was happening. Jessica sat beside me, gently explained the dying process and held our grandmother’s hand. She reassured her that it was okay to go, then reached for my hand and helped me find the courage to say goodbye.
That moment showed me something I have witnessed throughout Jessica’s life: her ability to bring calm, compassion, and reassurance during unimaginable grief.
She understands that sometimes people don’t need answers or explanations. They simply need someone willing to sit beside them, listen, and allow them to grieve.
Jessica believes the coroner’s office should be about public service, not politics. The position requires professional knowledge and investigative experience, but also compassion, humility and respect for every family.
During this campaign, I joined Jessica in going door-to-door. Although initially hesitant, I came away grateful for the opportunity to meet so many wonderful Lewis County residents. People welcomed us, asked thoughtful questions, and shared deeply personal experiences of loss. Those conversations reminded me how profoundly the Lewis County Coroner’s Office touches our community.
I hope this offers a glimpse of Jessica beyond her credentials and professional experience. I know her as my sister, my friend, and someone whose commitment to serving others has been demonstrated throughout her life.
I encourage you to learn more about her experience, priorities, and vision for Lewis County coroner.
Thank you to everyone who has welcomed us, shared their stories and supported this journey.
Tera Middlebrook
Chehalis
