Present, Jess J. b. July 28, 1921 Jamestown, NY. d. Aug. 8, 1998 WCA Hospital, Jamestown, NY. bd. Aug. 12, 1998 Lot 380 G - 9. Age 77. s/o Abe and Frances (Price) Present. md. June 26, 1946 - Mary "Elaine" Coates. PJ: 8/10/1998: Bemus Point: New York State Senator Jess J. Present, 77, of 4397 Lakeside Dr., died Saturday evening (Aug. 8, 1998) in the WCA Hospital Emergency Room after being stricken earlier in his home. He was born July 28, 1921 in Jamestown, a son of Abe and Frances Price Present. A 1939 graduate of Jamestown High School, he attended Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa. and was a veteran of World War II serving in the 8th Air Force in England in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He began his career in elective office in 1959 with his election to the Jamestown city council, serving as president from 1962 to 1963. In 1965, he was elected to the New York State Assembly in a special election and in 1968, was elected to the New York State Senate where he served until his death. During his term he served as chairman of various senate committees and currently served as deputy majority leader for administration. In earlier years, he operated a jewelry store in Jamestown with his father and brother. He was a member of John W. Tiffany Post 53 Veterans of Foreign Wars, Mt. Moriah Lodge No. 145 Free and Accepted Masons where he was past master and the Scottish Rite Consistory of Jamestown. He was a life member of Ira Lou Spring Post 149 American Legion, the Lakewood Rod and Gun Club, and charter member of Carroll Lodge and Kharram Grotto. He was a former director of the Jamestown YMCA, Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce and the former First National Bank of Jamestown. He was also a former chairman of the Chautauqua County Republican Committee. In 1997, the museum in Allegany State Park was dedicated in his honor. Surviving are his wife, the former Elaine Coates, whom he married June 26, 1946 in Titusville, Pa.; two sons: Jeffrey B. and Randall L. Present; three grandchildren: Julie E., Leanne A. and Jess P. Present; a sister, Anna Rae Present, all of Bemus Point; and two brothers: William E. Present of Lakewood and Leonard R. Present of West Bloomfield, Mich. The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday in Christ First United Methodist Church. The Rev. Gordon Bloomburg, visitation pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in Bemus Point Cemetery. The Mt. Moriah Lodge No. 145 Mosonic funeral service will be at 8 p.m. Tuesday in the Powers, Present & Sixbey Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Senator Jess J. Present Scholarship Fund, c/o Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, 21 E. Third St., Jamestown, N.Y. or Bemus Point Volunteer Fire Department, Bemus Point, N.Y. 14712.
Information compiled by Loraine C. Smith, Town of Ellery historian.