Jesse F. Jones III, 76, of Leavenworth, Kan., died, Monday, Feb. 9, 2015, at St. Luke’s Cushing Medical Center.
He was born on July 28, 1938, in Vicksburg, the son of Jesse F. and Josephine R. (Morrissey) Jones Jr.
Jesse graduated from St. Aloysius High School (Class of 1957) and the University of Mississippi in 1961, where he was commissioned through the ROTC program into the United States Army as a field artillery officer.
He served two tours in Vietnam, graduated from the Command General Staff College, went on to serve with the Joint Airborne Command Post, and then concluded his career at Fort Leavenworth, first as an instructor at CGSC, and served as the director of the Nuclear Chemical Directorate. During his service, Jesse was recognized for his leadership and received various military honors, including the Meritorious Service Award, Combat Infantryman Badge and Bronze Star Medal (Oak Leaf Cluster) as well as numerous foreign decorations.
Jesse retired from the Army in April 1984, and was able to explore his lifelong fascination with technology when he opened Computers ASP, which he operated until 1997.
After that time, he was able to concentrate on what was important to him, his family and finally, grandchildren. Jesse was an active member of the community and served as senior warden of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.
He was active in the Downtown Business Association, founded the Silverback Men’s Book Club, was a member of the OB coffee group and was an active member of the Democratic Party. He was known for his booming voice and personality. Jesse enjoyed a lively debate, reading, playing on the computer, model trains and sharing a meal and a story or two with family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Nina Jones Alvarez of Metairie, La., and Mary Jones Kavanaugh of Vicksburg.
Jesse is survived by his beloved wife, Jo Anne Nutt Jones; eight children, Julie Ann Marcus of Prairie Village, Kan., Steven (Katie) Marcus of Vicksburg, Jesse Fuller Jones IV of Weaverville, Calif., Miles (Angela) Marcus of Jackson, Belle (Michael) Morgan of Wichita Falls, Texas, Treadwell (Karin) Jones of Prairie Village, Kan., Thomas (Dr. Jill Urban) Jones of Dallas and Elizabeth (David) Karkosky of Portland, Ore.; 11 grandchildren, Don, Sara, Blanche, Emma, Forrest, Michaela, Sam, Rowan, Patrick, Anna and Catherine. Jesse leaves an extended family of cousins, nieces and nephews, including Mittie Towne and Josephine Pratt of Vicksburg.
Services will be noon, Aug. 11, 2016, at Cedar Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Beth Palmer, rector of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, officiating.
Charles Riles Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.
