Jere William Hess Jr.
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Jere William Hess, Jr., known to family and friends as "Little Jere" and known to his grandchildren as "Big Jere," passed away Monday, August 8, 2022, at the age of 78 at Asbury Hospice House in Hattiesburg, MS.
Big Jere was born in Hattiesburg on August 5, 1944, to Jere William Hess, Sr. and Pauline VanLandingham Hess and grew up in Fruitland Park, MS. He met his wife of 57 years, Jo Etta Spooner, at Perkinston Junior College where he graduated with an Associate's Degree in Business. Jere and Jo Etta married shortly thereafter and lived in Starkville, MS while attending Mississippi State University. He graduated from Mississippi State University with a Bachelors in Personnel Management and a Master's of Business Administration.
Jere was an Eagle Scout, active in various church groups, and served on a number of educational and vocational Boards of Directors across the state of Mississippi. He worked at American Can Company, Gulf States Paper Corporation, Peavey Electronics, Stone County Economic Development Partnership, and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. He was inducted into the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Hall of Fame in 1997.
He is survived by his wife (Jo Etta), son Trey (Frances), daughter Jennifer (Keith), and son Matthew. He is also survived by his 7 grandchildren; Katie, Beth, Drew, Shelby, Charlotte, William, and Della Claire.
Visitation will be held at Moore Funeral Home in Wiggins, MS on Thursday, August 11 from 5:00-7:00 pm; and the funeral will be held at Moore Funeral Home in Wiggins, MS on Friday, August 12 at 4:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, Mississippi State University, or Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.