J.T. "Jess" Hightower, 84, of Amarillo died Saturday, April 17, 2010.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in Coulter Road Baptist Church with the Rev. Chris Robeson officiating and the Rev. Travis LaDuke, Dr. Larry Payne and Dr. Stan Coffee assisting. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd.
Jess was born Oct. 15, 1925, in Cameron to Fletcher and Pearl Hightower. They moved to Houston in the mid-1930s, where he graduated from Jeff Davis High School.
After graduation, he entered the U.S. Air Force and served in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He was a top gunner on a B-29. He always said, "I was never shot at nor did I shoot at anyone else and I was grateful for both of them."
From 1946 to 1950, he attended Baylor University on a full scholarship. He was called back into active military service during the Korean conflict from 1950 to 1951, and after the conflict Jess attended and graduated from Southwestern Seminary in 1955, where he received a master's in religious education. Over a career of 37 years, Jess served in five churches.
He married Mazelle "Mo" Isham in June 1955.
Jess loved the Lord, his church, his family and the Sunday school class that he taught until his health said "no more." He was a faithful visitor of the people in the church. He sang in the choir. He was a member of the LLL club. He will be missed by all.
Deepest appreciation and sincere thanks to all of the medical staff, Dr. Richard Chandler, Dr. Joel Osborn and Dr. Daniel Hendrick who had been so attentive to Jess' medical needs during this time.
He was preceded in death by his parents; an older brother, Harold; and a younger sister, Joyce.
Survivors include his loving wife of 54 years, "Mo"; two sons, John E. Johnston and wife Kathy of Amarillo and Jay Harold Hightower and wife Debbie of Calgary, Canada; a daughter, Juliann Wilhite and husband Rod of McGregor; 12 grandchildren, Joshua Johnston, Jana Henry, Kara McElya, Kyle Wilhite, Bryan Wilhite, Hollis Hightower, Hallee Hightower, Harper Hightower, Harley Johnson, Cordell McFarlin, Tommy McFarlin and Bessie Johnston; 10 great-grandchildren, Hope and Fayth Wilhite, Brooke Henry, Kyeler Wilhite, Kelli McElya, Breanna Johnston, Blaine Henry, Brylee D'Ann Johnston, Coltyn Wilhite and Jake McElya.
The family suggests memorials be to Coulter Road Baptist Church for Kenneth Wyatt "The Apostles" portraits, 4108 S. Coulter St. Amarillo, TX 79109.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Amarillo Globe-News, April 19, 2010
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in Coulter Road Baptist Church with the Rev. Chris Robeson officiating and the Rev. Travis LaDuke, Dr. Larry Payne and Dr. Stan Coffee assisting. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd.
Jess was born Oct. 15, 1925, in Cameron to Fletcher and Pearl Hightower. They moved to Houston in the mid-1930s, where he graduated from Jeff Davis High School.
After graduation, he entered the U.S. Air Force and served in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He was a top gunner on a B-29. He always said, "I was never shot at nor did I shoot at anyone else and I was grateful for both of them."
From 1946 to 1950, he attended Baylor University on a full scholarship. He was called back into active military service during the Korean conflict from 1950 to 1951, and after the conflict Jess attended and graduated from Southwestern Seminary in 1955, where he received a master's in religious education. Over a career of 37 years, Jess served in five churches.
He married Mazelle "Mo" Isham in June 1955.
Jess loved the Lord, his church, his family and the Sunday school class that he taught until his health said "no more." He was a faithful visitor of the people in the church. He sang in the choir. He was a member of the LLL club. He will be missed by all.
Deepest appreciation and sincere thanks to all of the medical staff, Dr. Richard Chandler, Dr. Joel Osborn and Dr. Daniel Hendrick who had been so attentive to Jess' medical needs during this time.
He was preceded in death by his parents; an older brother, Harold; and a younger sister, Joyce.
Survivors include his loving wife of 54 years, "Mo"; two sons, John E. Johnston and wife Kathy of Amarillo and Jay Harold Hightower and wife Debbie of Calgary, Canada; a daughter, Juliann Wilhite and husband Rod of McGregor; 12 grandchildren, Joshua Johnston, Jana Henry, Kara McElya, Kyle Wilhite, Bryan Wilhite, Hollis Hightower, Hallee Hightower, Harper Hightower, Harley Johnson, Cordell McFarlin, Tommy McFarlin and Bessie Johnston; 10 great-grandchildren, Hope and Fayth Wilhite, Brooke Henry, Kyeler Wilhite, Kelli McElya, Breanna Johnston, Blaine Henry, Brylee D'Ann Johnston, Coltyn Wilhite and Jake McElya.
The family suggests memorials be to Coulter Road Baptist Church for Kenneth Wyatt "The Apostles" portraits, 4108 S. Coulter St. Amarillo, TX 79109.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Amarillo Globe-News, April 19, 2010
J.T. "Jess" Hightower, 84, of Amarillo died Saturday, April 17, 2010.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in Coulter Road Baptist Church with the Rev. Chris Robeson officiating and the Rev. Travis LaDuke, Dr. Larry Payne and Dr. Stan Coffee assisting. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd.
Jess was born Oct. 15, 1925, in Cameron to Fletcher and Pearl Hightower. They moved to Houston in the mid-1930s, where he graduated from Jeff Davis High School.
After graduation, he entered the U.S. Air Force and served in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He was a top gunner on a B-29. He always said, "I was never shot at nor did I shoot at anyone else and I was grateful for both of them."
From 1946 to 1950, he attended Baylor University on a full scholarship. He was called back into active military service during the Korean conflict from 1950 to 1951, and after the conflict Jess attended and graduated from Southwestern Seminary in 1955, where he received a master's in religious education. Over a career of 37 years, Jess served in five churches.
He married Mazelle "Mo" Isham in June 1955.
Jess loved the Lord, his church, his family and the Sunday school class that he taught until his health said "no more." He was a faithful visitor of the people in the church. He sang in the choir. He was a member of the LLL club. He will be missed by all.
Deepest appreciation and sincere thanks to all of the medical staff, Dr. Richard Chandler, Dr. Joel Osborn and Dr. Daniel Hendrick who had been so attentive to Jess' medical needs during this time.
He was preceded in death by his parents; an older brother, Harold; and a younger sister, Joyce.
Survivors include his loving wife of 54 years, "Mo"; two sons, John E. Johnston and wife Kathy of Amarillo and Jay Harold Hightower and wife Debbie of Calgary, Canada; a daughter, Juliann Wilhite and husband Rod of McGregor; 12 grandchildren, Joshua Johnston, Jana Henry, Kara McElya, Kyle Wilhite, Bryan Wilhite, Hollis Hightower, Hallee Hightower, Harper Hightower, Harley Johnson, Cordell McFarlin, Tommy McFarlin and Bessie Johnston; 10 great-grandchildren, Hope and Fayth Wilhite, Brooke Henry, Kyeler Wilhite, Kelli McElya, Breanna Johnston, Blaine Henry, Brylee D'Ann Johnston, Coltyn Wilhite and Jake McElya.
The family suggests memorials be to Coulter Road Baptist Church for Kenneth Wyatt "The Apostles" portraits, 4108 S. Coulter St. Amarillo, TX 79109.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Amarillo Globe-News, April 19, 2010
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in Coulter Road Baptist Church with the Rev. Chris Robeson officiating and the Rev. Travis LaDuke, Dr. Larry Payne and Dr. Stan Coffee assisting. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd.
Jess was born Oct. 15, 1925, in Cameron to Fletcher and Pearl Hightower. They moved to Houston in the mid-1930s, where he graduated from Jeff Davis High School.
After graduation, he entered the U.S. Air Force and served in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He was a top gunner on a B-29. He always said, "I was never shot at nor did I shoot at anyone else and I was grateful for both of them."
From 1946 to 1950, he attended Baylor University on a full scholarship. He was called back into active military service during the Korean conflict from 1950 to 1951, and after the conflict Jess attended and graduated from Southwestern Seminary in 1955, where he received a master's in religious education. Over a career of 37 years, Jess served in five churches.
He married Mazelle "Mo" Isham in June 1955.
Jess loved the Lord, his church, his family and the Sunday school class that he taught until his health said "no more." He was a faithful visitor of the people in the church. He sang in the choir. He was a member of the LLL club. He will be missed by all.
Deepest appreciation and sincere thanks to all of the medical staff, Dr. Richard Chandler, Dr. Joel Osborn and Dr. Daniel Hendrick who had been so attentive to Jess' medical needs during this time.
He was preceded in death by his parents; an older brother, Harold; and a younger sister, Joyce.
Survivors include his loving wife of 54 years, "Mo"; two sons, John E. Johnston and wife Kathy of Amarillo and Jay Harold Hightower and wife Debbie of Calgary, Canada; a daughter, Juliann Wilhite and husband Rod of McGregor; 12 grandchildren, Joshua Johnston, Jana Henry, Kara McElya, Kyle Wilhite, Bryan Wilhite, Hollis Hightower, Hallee Hightower, Harper Hightower, Harley Johnson, Cordell McFarlin, Tommy McFarlin and Bessie Johnston; 10 great-grandchildren, Hope and Fayth Wilhite, Brooke Henry, Kyeler Wilhite, Kelli McElya, Breanna Johnston, Blaine Henry, Brylee D'Ann Johnston, Coltyn Wilhite and Jake McElya.
The family suggests memorials be to Coulter Road Baptist Church for Kenneth Wyatt "The Apostles" portraits, 4108 S. Coulter St. Amarillo, TX 79109.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Amarillo Globe-News, April 19, 2010
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