Tenn. —
Once upon a time, Clarence Anno fell in love and married Pauline Ritchie, they moved to the peaceful countryside near Woodall where they raised eight children, Maxine, Clarence Jr., Curtis, Carol Jean, Steven “Tommy,” Jessie James, Brenda and Martha Ann.
Jessie learned at a young age responsibility, the value of a penny, and “You had better have your chores done before your father gets home!” Times were hard in the ‘40s and ‘50s, there was enough to eat but never a scrap left over. In the years to come, the old farm house was replaced by a two bedroom bungalow nestled in the pine trees, closer to Highway 62, with a beautiful creek just under the hill, where Jessie, sister Carol Jean, and brother Tommy spent countless hours roaming the hillsides, catching fish and crawdads – roasting them in little drifts by the creek – using little bits of chipped off cow salt for seasoning, they were creative!
Jessie was good with a gun. He and Tom practiced on momma’s clothes pins still pinned to the line, seeing who could make the most of them “spin.” He missed school on a regular basis to hunt, helping to feed the family. Teachers knew he wouldn’t be in school when quail, deer or any other season came in, for that matter. That’s how he earned the nickname “The Great White Hunter,” compliments of a teacher.
After graduation from Tahlequah High School, he found employment where he could, learning many crafts. He gave his parents electricity, running water and their first TV. He helped countless others during his 74 years before COPD took him away on Nov. 12, 2012.
At 19 his first son, Jessie Gene Winsett, was born. Jess always wanted to be an engineer and design bridges, buildings and such, but there was no college in his future. Instead he became a self-taught carpenter, and a darned good one, working with his brother-in-law, Coy Whittmore. Mary Ann gave him a beautiful daughter, Tammy Dorene, and son, James Mitchell. The marriage was dissolved and he was left with two very young children to care for, having to walk them to the sisters over a half-mile away. He said, “I carried Mitchell and Tammy walked ‘til her little legs gave out, and I’d pick her up too.”
There was a son born. Mary Faye gave him a beautiful boy, Scott Alan Kirk. Jess later married Eula Mae (who resides on the old home place at Woodall). But alas, after 21 years that, too, dissolved. He did love and have quality time with his step-son, Glenn Gibson, and step-daughter, Debbie Garr.
Jessie loved to dance, and 27 years ago while at the Keys Round Up Club, he met what would become the “love of his life” and final partner. Deanna Lee Davis and son Mark A. Davis were a large part of his life. Another step-son, Jeffrey Emerson Davis resides in California. Jessie built his dream home west of Tahlequah, high on the hilltop, where they could sit on the deck and observe the cattle, watch for deer along the bottom and of course enjoy the “nite critters” who serenaded them. Hoot owls, coyotes and all sorts of singing bugs. Raccoons came for supper every night; one would eat marshmallows, cookies or grapes out of his hand, rather a change from a man who grew up coon hunting and selling hides.
He sadly leaves his family of four children, 12 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Carrying their grandfather and friend will proudly be Chad Winsett, Mark A. Davis, Jr., Steve Guffey, Eddie Molloy, David Stanley Sr. and David Stanley Jr. Honorary Pallbearers will be Mark A. Davis, Sr., Gary Hix, Steve Molloy, Ronnie Paul Ritchie and Tommy Anno.
I don’t know if God allows hunting and fishing in heaven, but if he does, that’s what Jessie James will do.
Services will be held at Wednesday, Nov. 14, at 1 p.m., in the Hart Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in the Tahlequah City Cemetery under the direction of Hart Funeral Home.
Hart Funeral Home, 1506 N. Grand, (918) 456-8823.
Obituaries
Jessie Anno
- Obituaries
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Butch Smith
Services for Butch Smith will be held at the Park Hill Baptist Church at 11 a.m. with Brother John Lee officiating. Interment will follow in the Park Hill Cemetery under the care and direction of Hart Funeral Home of Tahlequah. Please sign our online guestbook at www.hartfuneralhome.net.
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Emma Lianne Cain
Emma Lianne Cain, 58, died May 15, 2013, at home surrounded by loved ones.
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Jennifer Louise Callaway Heinrich
Jennifer Louise Callaway Heinrich, 57, of Cabot, Ark., passed from this life on May 13, 2013, in her home surrounded by her family.
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Dorothy Covington Chafin (Bottoms)
Services for Dorothy Covington Chafin (Bottoms) will be held on Monday , May 13, at 1 p.m., at Reed-Culver Chapel with Chaplin Wendell Cox officiating. Visitation will be held on Sunday, May 12, from 1-6 p.m. at Reed-Culver Chapel.
Interment will be held at Tahlequah City Cemetery. Condolences for the family may be left at www.reedculver.com. -
Marie Warren Martin
Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, May 13, at the Peggs Community Church in Peggs, with Rev. Rex Hendricks officiating. Viewing will be held at Hart Funeral Home on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from 1-8 p.m. Services were entrusted to the care and direction of Hart Funeral Home of Tahlequah. Please sign our online guestbook at www.hartfuneralhome.net.
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Monte Wayne Strout
Services for Monte Wayne Strout, 69, of Tahlequah, will be held at 10 a.m., Monday May 13, 2013, at Green Country Funeral Home, with Rev. Gene Ruth Brumback officiating.
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JOAN ALBERTA HOLLOWAY
Services for Joan Alberta (Steinmeyer) Holloway, 82, of Park Hill will be held on Thursday, May 9, at 2 p.m., in the Reed-Culver Funeral Home Chapel, with Pastor Lloyd Tester officiating. Burial with follow in the Park Hill Cemetery under the direction of the Reed-Culver Funeral Home. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 8, from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m., at Reed-Culver Funeral Home. Condolences for the family may be left at www.reedculver.com.
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Vina Imogene (Jeanie) Branch
Graveside services for Vina I. Branch, 74, of Tahlequah, will be held at 1 p.m., Monday, May 7, at the Moodys Cemetery.
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Ernest R. Ashcraft
Services for Ernest R. Ashcraft will be held Wednesday, May 8, at 10 a.m. at the Northside Baptist Church with Brother Charles Keim officiating. Interment will follow in the Memorial Park Cemetery in Enid at 4 p.m. under the care and direction of Hart Funeral Home of Tahlequah. Please sign our online guestbook at www.hartfuneralhome.net.
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William Smith (Bill) Graham
William Smith (Bill) Graham, 77, went to be with the Lord on April 30, 2013.
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Butch Smith
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