Jesse Lee Holcomb

Funeral services for Jesse Lee Holcomb, 95, of Tyler (formerly of Upshur County) will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, December 11, 2010, at Croley Funeral Home Chapel in Gilmer, with Reverend Gene Steger officiating. Interment will be conducted by Billy Davis and the Bethesda Masonic Lodge #142 Gilmer, Texas in Hopewell Cemetery in Upshur County. Arrangements are under the direction of Croley Funeral Home in Gilmer. Mr. Holcomb passed away Friday, December 3, 2010, in a Tyler Memory Care Facility. Mr. Holcomb was born April 18, 1915, in Hawkins, Texas to George William and Rhodie (Roda) Belle Lambert Holcomb. Jesse was reared in Pritchett, Texas until old enough to join the U.S. Army, along with his two brothers. Jesse joined the 1st Cavalry and was a Pearl Harbor Survivor which lead the United States into World War II. After his stint in the Army, he met and married Avis Dee Willis Robertson in Fort Worth, Texas. They moved to El Paso, Texas where Jesse worked as a Fireman on Southern Pacific Railroad and soon advanced to Engineer with Southern Pacific until he retired in July 1977, and moved to the Rosewood area in Upshur County. He was a dedicated member of Ysleta Masonic Lodge and Scottish Rite Temple in El Paso, Texas where he earned 33 Degree Mason. He later transferred to AF & AM Bethesda Masonic Lodge in Gilmer. Was a member of DAV and worked on behalf of Disable Veterans and Pearl Harbor Survivors member. He was a member of Hopewell Methodist Church in Upshur County. He had a good relationship with his Lord and Savior and had a very caring heart. He will be greatly missed. Mr. Holcomb is survived by step-daughter: Bonnie Robertson Thomas; five grandchildren and their spouses, nine great-grandchildren, four great great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife: Avis Dee Willis Robertson Holcomb; parents: George and Rhodie (Roda) Holcomb; brothers: Avil Boyd Holcomb and Frank Harold Holcomb; step-son: James L. Robertson; and granddaughter: Katherine Ann Robertson. Pallbearers will be: Dr. David Layland, Peter Stemmermann, Rick Thomas, Michael Duplechin, Lt. Michael Layland, Jesse Duplechin, Sergio Bustamante, Trevor McDermott, and Stephen Layland. Visitation will be from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday, December 10, 2010 at Croley Funeral Home in Gilmer.