Jessie DonKesler

Jessie Don Kesler, 77, of Greenville, passed away Friday, October 19, 2012, at his home after a brief illness.  Funeral services will be 2:00 PM, Tuesday, October 23, 2012, at Family Fellowship under the direction of Coker-Mathews Funeral Home.  Rev. Steve Johnson and Rev. Bill Shaddox will officiate.  Burial will be in Memoryland Memorial Park. 

Don was born on March 29, 1935, in Delta County, Texas to John Daniel and Alva Lee Wickersham Kesler.  He married Mary Lee Cregg on December 26, 1956.  They have two children, Kristie Lee Moore and Jeffrey Don Kesler.  For the first two years of their marriage, the couple lived in Cooper, Texas where Don owned and operated a Texaco station.  They moved to Greenville in 1958 when he was hired by the Greenville Police Department, where he served for nearly 38 years before retiring as Captain in December, 1995.  He also served for several years on the board of directors of the Texas Municipal Police Association, as well as three decades as the president of the Jacobia Water System and was a member of the Masonic Lodge.  Don also owned and operated “Kesler and Son Ironworks” located on north Johnson Street in Greenville for nearly 40 years.  During that time he built and installed ornamental iron window coverings, handrails, fences, and gates all over northeast Texas.

Don was a hard worker and was known to able to build or fix anything.  Everyone called on him to work on their cars or machinery, and he was always quick to respond.  He was truly a “jack-of-all-trades” and generously gave of his time and skills to everyone he knew.  He was also known to have had “9 lives”, having survived several near-fatal accidents, including having been burned over half of his body in an explosion at his shop in 1965, as well as nearly having his arm cut off with a ban saw in 1997.

Don is survived by Mary Lee, his wife of 55 years; daughter Kristie Moore and son-in-law David of Greenville; son Jeff Kesler and daughter-in-law Becky of Texarkana, Arkansas; grandson Cregg Alan Moore and granddaughter-in-law Courtney of Rockwall; grandson Kyle David Moore of Greenville; grandson Caleb Don Kesler and granddaughter-in-law Courtney of Texarkana, Arkansas; grandson Caden Vaughn Kesler of Texarkana, Arkansas; and the apple of his eye, granddaughter Karrie Lee Moore of Greenville.  He is also survived by sister Pat Morris of Arlington, Texas; brother Dan Kesler and sister-in-law Bettie of Greenville; numerous nieces and nephews; and his best friend of 50 years, Herschel Moore.  He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters Lila Faye Hocutt and Ravena Pruitt.

Pallbearers will be the five grandchildren, nephew Brent Kesler and family friend Jeremy Coffman.  Honorary pallbearers will be the Greenville Police Department, current and retired.

The family wishes to thank the nurses from Vitas Hospice of the loving care that they gave to Don during his illness.  They would also like to thank Kenneth Humble for being such a devoted friend to Don over the years.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Salem-Kinser United Methodist Church in Don’s memory.