| Bio | Jess was a foreman at Armco Steel. He was a co-founder of the Fort Osage Indian Athletic Association. He was a good father to his three son's, Tony now 29, Joe 26 and Cory 23. He was active in Scouts and coached the boys in basketball and baseball which he had a real talent for. His teams always took first or at least 2nd place. His team and their parents had great respect and admiration for Jess. A tribute was written in the Buckner Villager after his death expressing the respect and admiration for him. It was a tear jerker. Research it you'll love it.
Jess had Rheumatic heart disease with a whole in his arota valve. He underwent his first open heart surgery at the age of 25. They replaced the aorta valve with a pigs valve.
Everything went great for 5 years. Jess turned 30 August 23, 1984 and had his second open heart surgery the following month where they place a plastic B-jork Shiley valve in place of the failing pigs valve. There were complications during surgery. A nerve was cut and Jess lost the right side and lower quadrants of the heart. He stayed in the hospital for 2 weeks was discharged home. He was home for 5 days. On the fifth day, October 14, 1984, he experience and arythmia and then total heart failure leaving me, his wife and three beautiful sons ages 11, 8 and three at the time.
He was a hard worker a good father and would give anyone the shirt off his back and always make you laugh. He is missed greatly. |
