Ernest J. Jessie Jr., 92

A Funeral Mass for Ernest J. Jessie Jr., age 92, of Tupper Lake, was held on Saturday, January 9, 2020 at 10a.m. at St. Alphonsus Holy Name Parish with Rev. Douglas Decker officiating. Burial will take place in the spring at Holy Name Cemetery.

Mr. Jessie passed away on Tuesday night, January 5, 2020 at his home. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Frary-Stuart Funeral Home, Tupper Lake.

He is survived by his wife, Rita Jessie; his three children, Mark Jessie, of Tupper Lake, Gregory Jessie and his wife, Deolinda, of Tupper Lake, and Judy Jarvis and her husband, Eric, of Dannemora; and five grandchildren, Christopher Jessie, Michelle Jessie, AJ Imlach, Emily Jessie Clark and her husband, Jordan, and Ernest Wayne Jessie; five great-grandchildren, Shane Jessie, Ryker Whitley, Maddox Whitley, Lincoln Clark, and Gracelynn Jessie.

He is predeceased by his three brothers, Robert, Vincent, and William Jessie and his two sisters, Elizabeth (Bootsie) Demers and Fern Mazur.

Ernest was born on December 1, 1928, in Tupper Lake, the son of Ernest J. Sr. and Grace M. Peck Jessie. He graduated from Tupper Lake High School in 1947. He married Rita Hesseltine on May 28, 1955 at Holy Name Church in Tupper Lake with Rev. Wilcott officiating.

He enlisted in the Army in May 1951, where he served in Germany. After returning from the military, he operated the Junction skating rink at the elementary school with his brother, Vin. He drove school bus for the Tupper Lake Central School District for 29 years.

Together with his wife, he owned and operated Jessie’s Bait and Tackle in the Junction for over 42 years.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and visiting anyone who stopped into the bait and tackle store. Ernest was a communicant of Holy Name Church.

Donations in his memory can be made to the Tupper Lake Volunteer Rescue Squad, 169 Main St, Tupper Lake, NY 12986.

Condolences may be made online at www.fraryfuneralhomes.com.