Jessie Marlin Tull

Jessie Marlin Tull was born September 3, 1930 in Jennings, Oklahoma. He was the son of Anna Jemima (Burris) and William Marion Tull. Jessie was raised and attended school in Jennings.

Upon completion of his education, Jessie enlisted on October 1, 1949 into the United States Marine Corp, serving as a Staff Sergeant during the Korean Conflict. During his enlistment, Staff Sergeant Tull received the following awards and decorations, Korean Service Ribbon, Army Distinguished Unit Citation, Presidential Unit Citation, United Nations Ribbon and the Good Conduct Medal. He was honorably discharged on August 15, 1952 at the Marine Air Detachment at Naval Air Station, Olathe, Kansas and returned to Jennings.

Jessie was married to Sylvia Olive Dressler at the Hallett Christian Church on June 13, 1954. The couple made their initial home in Jennings as Jessie accepted employment in the oil fields of northeastern Oklahoma and then moved to Farmington, New Mexico. In 1958 the couple moved their family to Kansas as Mr. Tull began working for the Rhodes Construction Company building bridges in southern Kansas. In 1962, they returned to Jennings as Jessie returned to the oil field business for short time before beginning a career as an iron worker. The couple had six children, Erma, Rose, Jessie M. Tull, Jr., Arthur, Colleen and Tammy. Mr. Tull was an active member for forty years of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers, Local 584, Tulsa, Oklahoma, retiring in 1991.

Jessie was a member of the First Baptist Church in Jennings, the Jennings Veteran of Foreign War, Post 4757 and the Ancient Order of Free and Accepted Masons, Jennings Lodge 151. He was a twenty-eight year member of the Jennings School Board, having served in numerous capacities including President. Jessie's hobbies included traveling with Sylvia in their recreational vehicle, camping and also elk hunting in Colorado.

Jessie passed away on Thursday, June 28, 2007 at his home near Jennings, Oklahoma at the age of seventy-six years, nine months and twenty-five days. He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, William Marion Junior Tull, John Stanford Tull, Dale Elmo Tull and George Washington Tull; and a daughter-in-law, Brenda McWilliams Tull.

He is survived by his wife of fifty-three years, Sylvia of the home; six children,
Erma Wilson and husband, John of Powell, Missouri, Rose and Steve Reed, of Jennings, Oklahoma, Jessie M. Tull, Jr. of Jennings, Oklahoma, Arthur Tull and Crystal, of Jennings, Oklahoma, Colleen Slover and husband, Charlie of Olive, Oklahoma, Tammy Lewis and husband. Randy, of Yale, Oklahoma; brother, Marvin Tull and wife, Betty of La Porte, Colorado; two sisters, Barbara Dressler and husband, Lewis of Hallett, Oklahoma and Ann Nugent and husband, T.W. of Hallett, Oklahoma; twenty two grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren; numerous other family and friends. Also surviving is Bertha Case, Sylviaís sister, who was lovingly raised by Jessie from the age of four as his own daughter.

Funeral services were held at 2:00 pm, Saturday, June 7, 2007 at the First Baptist Church in Jennings with Rev. Mark Compton. Burial was at the Lawson Cemetery in Yale under the direction of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home in Cleveland. Masonic services were provided by the Jennings Masonic Lodge 151 and military honors rendered by the Veterans of Foreign War, District 4, Honor Guard. A representative from the Ironworkers Local 454 also presented a pin and a bible to Sylvia representing Jessieís forty years of membership in the local union.