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Jesse Columbus James January 8, 1923- December 6, 2008 Jesse Columbus James was born to Clara Muriel McCoy James and Jesse Garfield James at their home near Bexar, Texas, west of Somerset, Bexar County, Texas. Jesse was the oldest of three children. Jesse attended Somerset, Texas schools until he had go to work hauling crude oil. At the age of 13 he purchased an oil tanker truck and eventually hired two other drivers to drive his truck when he rested. His route took Jesse from new oil fields at Pettus-Cambellton area to the railhead at Whitsett or the Slimp Oil Company refineries in Somerset and San Antonio. At age 13, he was the youngest person ever to be allowed to legally sign railroad manifests at any railroad and be licensed as a commercial driver in the state of Texas. Teachers and coaches at Somerset High School convinced him to return to school and graduate, which he did in 1942. Jesse played on the 6-Man football team where he earned the honor of being named to the "Iron Man Team." Teaching in the Somerset elementary school was a new college graduate, June Pike. After his graduation, Jesse boldly asked her for a date, she said yes, and they married August 8, 1942. By January 1943, Jesse was graduating from the Great Lakes Naval Training Center and soon on the ships Cape Henlopen and Golden Eagle as a Gunner's Mate and Petty Officer 2nd class. Preceding him in death were the loves of his life his beloved wife June Edith Pike James and his granddaughter Jessica Marie James. Also preceding him in death were his sister Thelma Patricia James Wilhelm of San Antonio and his brother John Kenneth James of Houston and San Antonio. Jesse is survived by daughter Peggy Ann James Weyel and husband Robert Edward Weyel, Jr., son Michael Edward James and wife Karen Ann Cardenas James, son Timothy Allen James, grandson John Michael James, Jessica Marie's husband Samuel Tannenbaum, and Jesse's sister-in-law Helen Lee Pike Walker. Numerous nieces and nephews include Robert David James and wife Lou Ellen "Sam" of Houston, Kenneth Daylon James and wife Amanda Jo of Houston; Joseph Calvin Wilhelm of Somerset, Patricia Carol Wilhelm Peters of Goldthwaite, Lee Irene Walker Cowley and husband Warren of Austin, James Pike Walker and wife Vanna Kay of McQueeney, Bobby Walker and wife Patricia Lynn of San Antonio, John Paul Walker and wife Karen Sue of San Antonio, and Mark Edward Walker of San Antonio. He is also survived by friends who have faithfully cared for him in his last years including Elpidio and Alicia Esquivel, Elpidio, Jr., and Veronica Esquivel, Josephine Tamez, Janie Perales, and Cynthia Moran, and their family as well as Norma and Gary Morris who kept his garden blooming and his precious grass cut. A grateful thanks to Elaine, Karen, Durshie, Lana, Larry, and others of the visiting nursing staff from Restorative Health Care as well as Joe and Clarke of Caring Companions for their professional and tender care of Jesse in his last days. Service Visitation will be from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at Mission Park Funeral Chapels North. Funeral Service will begin at 3:00 PM on Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at Mission Park Funeral Chapels North. Interment will follow in Mission Burial Park North.

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Jesse Columbus James

January 8, 1923 - December 6, 2008