99-Year-Old Havasu Woman Paints Memorial Pet Portraits On Rocks For The Community

By Nicole Matheson

Grieving pet owners in the community are looking to a remarkable woman who has made it her passion painting memorial portraits of these precious pets on a unique canvas — rocks. 

Soon to be 100 years old in December, Jeanie Hall has never charged for her beautiful pet portraits. She has a lengthy list of eager recipients who provide a picture of their deceased pet for Hall to use as reference for her artwork.

“I don’t charge,” Hall said. “I feel that they have gone through enough losing their pet. I’m not going to take that with me. You know? So, I feel if I’m helping somebody, make them a little happier, that’s what I want to do.”

It all began in 2016 with a heartfelt request for a painted rock. “I had a fellow request a rock. He lost his dog and he wasn’t doing well, so a friend asked if I would paint him a dog on a rock.”

Being an artist since she was young, Hall took on the challenge in spite of the fact that, “Well, I haven’t done that. I paint big things.”

Hall certainly didn’t expect her very first painted rock to go viral when she posted it on Facebook. The reaction in the community was incredible. “I can’t keep up with it. I can’t keep up with my requests. I’ve done hundreds.”

Listing all the animals she has painted, Hall said, “Dogs and cats and horses. And a hamster.”

These painted rocks do take time and focus, and Hall said, “It depends on the mood I’m in. I just got new glasses and so that’s helping. I need good glasses to paint with.”

Sometimes painting on an imperfect surface like a rock requires wood putty and sanding to fill in holes. But Hall is no stranger to unconventional canvases. “I paint on saws and everything. I’ve been into paper mache, I’ve been into wood burning. When I lived in Utah and my husband was chief of police I used to paint to fill in my hours, and I had my own gift shop.”

For Hall, an interest in art sparked early on. “I started painting when I was a little girl and I had a blackboard with chalk. I did Betty Boop, those were Betty Boop days. Then as a teenager I used to get into the movie stars and I did charcoal paintings of them. Like Hedy Lamarr.”

Hall’s home is filled with her unique artwork, and her Facebook messaging is similarly filled with requests for these special pet memorial rocks.

Hall has lived in Lake Havasu for more than 40 years, coming here from Utah. “I’ve seen all the changes, some I like some I don’t,” she said candidly. “What do I like about Havasu? People are very friendly, they treat me very, very nice. Especially as I get older.”

And Hall has advice for anyone thinking of getting into art or painting. “It’s one of the best things you can do. That’s why I get up in the morning. That’s why I’ve lived as long as I have. Painting. I’m never bored.”