Jesse Lewis Stephens, age 81 of Kennard, passed away Sunday, October 13, 2024 in Tyler. Jesse was born May 25, 1943 in Crockett to parents, Evan Clark Stephens and Iva Bell Baker Stephens. He graduated from Crockett High School, class of 1961. While in high school to support himself, Jesse worked at Brookshires as a butcher and also at the skating rink. In 1967, Jesse graduated from Sam Houston State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. He married Wanda Curry on June 29, 1968, and for 13 years, they worked in Houston then moved back to Crockett to raise their family. In the early 1980’s, he opened Jesse L. Stephens CPA firm having a successful practice for over 40 years. Over the years, he was very active in Crockett and Kennard where he was a member of the Lothrop Masonic Lodge #21 AF & AM, Crockett Lions Club, Crockett Elks Lodge, Kennard Lions Club, Kennard First Baptist Church and Mayor of Kennard for 13 years. Jesse loved all sports, but his passion was baseball, spending many hours working to get the fields ready, serving as a coach, board president, and served on state tournament committee, umpired in the state Little League tournament as well as southern regional tournament and lastly served as District 10 Administrator for many years. Being a mentor to many kids, he would transport them to and from games and hardly ever missed a game his own children played. In the recent years, he attended and enjoyed every game his grandchildren Katy and Hunter played in volleyball, basketball, softball and baseball. Jesse was good man and a good friend to many with a kind heart, always speaking well about everyone.
Jesse is survived by wife of 56 years, Wanda Stephens of Kennard; daughter, Gaylene Allen and husband, Jason of Crockett; son, Marshall Stephens and special friend, Eliz Gambill of Kennard; grandchildren, Katy and Hunter Allen, Lane Stephens; sisters and brother, Marilyn Harrison and husband, Don of Crockett, Jerry Stephens and wife, Phyllis of Anderson, Dyanna Smith of Houston; numerous nieces, nephews, other loving relatives and very special friends. He was preceded in death by father, Evan Clark Stephens; mother, Iva Bell Smith; sister, Paula Jones; and nephew, Kevin Stephens.
Funeral services for Jesse Lewis Stephens were held at 2:00 pm Thursday October 17, 2024, at the Kennard First Baptist Church. Interment followed in the Corinth Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Crockett Merchants Youth Baseball, P.O. Box 1334 Crockett, TX 75835 or the Corinth Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 191 Kennard, TX 75847.
Online condolences may be left at www.callawayallee.com
CALLAWAY-ALLEE FUNERAL HOME 442
