Arnold D. Jessee Jr.

Arnold D. Jessee Jr., age 92, went to be with the Lord and his beloved wife of 70 years, "Faye", on Monday evening, March 14, 2022. He was born on the 4th of July, 1929 to Arnold D. Jessee Sr. and Muphas Jessee of Virginia. In addition to his wife and parents, he was also preceded in death by one sister, Irene (Jessee) Perry of Richmond, VA.

Jess was born at the beginning of the depression in Southwest Virginia. His first job was carrying water to the field workers at 5 years old - a beginning of a long career of hard work. At 16, he had the first tractor and trailer in Russell County, VA and hauled lumber & logs until he went in the Army in December 1950. He came back to Virginia after 6 months and married Faye Martin, and went back to Ft. Bragg. December 1951 he was sent to Germany, and Faye came back to VA. December 1952, he came home to Faye and 6 month old baby Deborah. They left and came to Ohio as many southerners did in the early 50's. Jess settled in Dayton and worked 2 to 3 jobs at a time until he started at Helm's Express. In 1955, he and Faye bought a lot in Miami County, and they started building a house in 1956. They now had 3 kids: 2 girls and a new baby boy.

Jess worked on his house after work ended on Saturday's. Over the years, he added and changed and added again until the house was almost 5000 sqft, with a 4500 sqft garage and barn. All of it built by Faye and Jess. He wouldn't have outside help. He made furniture, ornamental tables, benches and pottery for about 60 years, ran a quilting machine for over 40 years, taking many quilts to Indian Reservations in North Dakota. Through the years, they traveled, and all their kids had been to about 40 states and Canada when they finished school. Faye had been to 48 states, Canada and Mexico when she passed. Jess had been to 47 states, Germany, Canada and Mexico.

Jess is survived by what he called his "4 Senior Citizens": Deborah Carter of Swords Creek, VA, Rhonda (Richard) Hyden of the home, Brent (fiancee Sheila Selby) Jessee of Pensacola, Florida, and Kate (Paul) Bockelman of Peculiar, Missouri; 8 grandchildren: Collin (Kim) Long, Erin (fiance Mark) Malloy, Jeramy Hyden, Amanda Hyden, Morgan (Matt) Wiebke, Brian Jessee, Jessee Bockelman, and Davis Bockelman; 10 great-grandchildren: Chris (fiancee Kaley) Stiltner, Alex Long, Brandon (Traci) Brathall, Elizabeth Brathall, Whitney Webster, Jordan Webster Jr., Jacob Webster, Ari Wiebke, Oscar Wiebke, and Zoey Wiebke; 3 great-great-grandchildren: Kenzley Stiltner, Kason Stiltner, and Aundraya Hyden; 1 sister, Janice Tiller of Honaker, VA, and 1 brother, Carl B. Jessee Sr. of Bristol, VA.

Jess will be missed by many. He was an amazing son, brother, father, grandpa, and friend to many - a genius with a 7th grade education.

Written by Deborah Carter

A visitation will be held from 10:00am to 11:00am on Saturday, March 26, 2022 at Newcomer North Chapel, 4104 Needmore Road, Dayton, where the funeral service will begin at 11:00am. A burial will follow at Casstown Cemetery in Troy, Ohio.

Faith doesn't always take you out of the problem,
Faith takes you through the problem.
Faith doesn't always take away the pain,
Faith give you the ability to handle the pain.
Faith doesn't always take you out of the storm,
Faith calms you in the midst of the storm.

Amen.

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