Jesse was born at Cannon Air Force Base, NM, on April 8, 1985. He attended preschool in Del Rio, TX, elementary school in Goldsboro, NC, and intermediate school in Falls Church, VA. He started cooking when he was nine, and he earned his Open Water Diver certification at age 12. Jesse attended junior high school in Boise, ID, and enrolled in Junior ROTC.
Jesse was diagnosed with leukemia in May 2002. He is a 2003 graduate of Canyon del Oro High School in Oro Valley, AZ, where he was enrolled in the culinary arts program. The Arizona Daily Star profiled him as a Senior Class Achiever.
Jesse received his Emergency Medical Technician Certificate from Pima Community College. He attended classes there and at the University of Arizona.
Jesse fulfilled his dream of becoming a soldier by enlisting in the 208th Transportation Company, U.S. Army Reserve, in 2003. He completed basic training at Ft. Jackson, SC, in the summer of 2004, and he completed his military driver training at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO, in early 2005. Jesse reported to Ft. Bliss, TX in the summer of 2005, and deployed to Camp Anaconda, Balad, Iraq, shortly thereafter.
Jesse suffered a relapse of leukemia while serving in Iraq. He received a cord blood transplant at University Medical Center in Tucson on March 31, 2006.
Jesse’s suffering ended on July 29, 2007 at UMC. He is survived by his parents, Salette and Jeff, his sister Virginia, his dogs, his grandmothers, his step-grandfather, two uncles and their spouses, six aunts and their spouses, 14 first cousins, and numerous extended family members and friends.
The memorial service for Jesse featured a presentation honoring his life. He was buried on August 3, 2007 at the Southern Arizona Veterans' Cemetery.
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Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
Jesse and Gus were walking along a road. Jesse was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead.
He remembered dying, and that Gus, his faithful dog, had been dead for many years. He wondered where the road was leading them.
After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight. When Jesse was standing before it, he saw a magnificent gate in the arch made from mother of pearl, and the street that led to the gate made from pure gold. Jesse and Gus walked toward the gate, and as they got closer, they saw a man at a desk to one side.
When they were close enough, Jesse called out, "Excuse me, where are we?"
"This is heaven, sir," the man answered.
"Wow! Do you have any water? We've been walking a long time," Jesse said.
"Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up." The man gestured, and the gate began to open.
"Can my friend come in, too?" Jesse asked, gesturing toward Gus.
"I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets."
Jesse thought a moment, remembering the ten years Gus remained loyal to him, and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going.
After another long walk he came to a plain dirt road which led through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence. As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.
"Excuse me!" Jesse called to the reader. "Do you have any water? We've been walking a long way."
"Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there." The man pointed to a place that couldn't be seen from outside the gate. "Come on in and help yourself."
"How about my friend here?" Jesse gestured to Gus.
"There should be a bowl by the pump; he is welcome to share."
They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it. Jesse filled the bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to Gus.
When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree waiting for them.
"What do you call this place?" Jesse asked.
"This is heaven," was the answer.
"Well, that's confusing," Jesse said. "The man down the road said that was heaven, too."
"Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That's hell."
"Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?"
"No. We're just happy that they screen out the folks who'd leave their best friends behind."