Jesse Lee (JL) James Jr. was born to Jesse and Lula James on February 5, 1928 and left this world to be with the Lord on November 26, 2019. He was 91 years old.
Jesse lived in Crowell, TX with his parents and sisters. When he was 10 years old they moved to Merit, TX. They were farmers and lived in and around Farmersville, TX until he joined the Army at the age of 17 in 1945. Jesse served in the Army in Korea and finished his service as a Staff Sergeant. When he returned he married Billie Tillett. After moving a few times they settled in Wylie, TX and had three sons Nicky, Tony and Tim. Jesse worked at Kraft Foods in Garland, TX from 1949 to 1989 and when he retired he and Billie moved to Farmersville, TX. He lived there for the remainder of his life.
Jesse was a hardworking man, devoted husband, father and Papa. He enjoyed farming, hunting, playing dominos, sitting outside enjoying the sunshine and spoiling his grandkids rotten. He was a deacon at Bethlehem Baptist Church and while he was able he was the first face you would see when coming into the church on Sunday morning. He spent the last half of his life serving the Lord and was the spiritual leader of his family. He will be greatly missed by all those that were honored to be in his life.
JL was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters Gertrude James and Bonnie Burris, and his grandson Andy James.
He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Billie James, sister Belle Vestal, his sons and their wives, Nicky and Tamera James, Tony and Shelia James, Tim and Melita James, his grandchildren, Shane James, Shelly Kinney, Michael James and his wife Wyndi, Misty Lemberg and her husband Jo, Jesse James and his wife Amber, Joley Payne and her husband Jerod, Sadie James, Katie Whitsell and her husband Lewis, Luke James, Taryn Kinkade and her husband Kolton, 18 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.
His funeral was held at Bethlehem Baptist Church on November 30, 2019 at 1:00 pm and Internment held at I.O.O.F Cemetery in Farmersville, Texas.
“Billie James and Family would like to extend their appreciation to everyone that offered their sincere condolences and time to help heal the James'. We appreciate the never ending food trains, floral arrangements and Love, given to us.”