Jessie King

Jessie N. King, 65, formerly of Jackson, passed away Friday, May 20, 2011, at St. Luke's Hospital in St. Louis.

Jessie lived and worked many years in St. Louis and Belleville, Ill. He was born June 15, 1945, in Cape Girardeau to Jack H. and Louise Howard King.

Jessie was raised in Jackson and is a former longtime member of First Baptist Church. He was a 1963 graduate of Jackson High School. He immediately entered the U.S. Navy on June 11, 1963, about one year prior to the entry of the United States in the Vietnam War. He was a seaman, radioman striker and served two years in foreign waters. He earned the National Defense Service Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal. He was honorably discharged on June 10, 1969.

He was employed in sewing machine sales, carpet and tile sales and worked as an agent for American General Life Insurance. He retired in 2007 while working at West Corp. in St. Louis. He was a former member and Sunday School teacher of both Westview Baptist Church in Belleville and Fairview Heights Baptist Church in Fairview Heights, Ill.

Loving survivors include two sons, Michael Lee (Holly) King of St. Louis and Andrew Scott King of Belleville; two brothers, Jackie Lee (Bonnie) King of Alabama and James Michael (Susan) King of Gordonville; a granddaughter, Madison Lee King; and a stepgrandson, Caleb Josiah Codding;

He was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Michelle Ann King; and his parents.

Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesday at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Tommy Weems officiating.

Burial will be in Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson with full military honors.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to the First Baptist Church in Jackson.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.