Jessie Collom

Jessie Irene Kennedy Collom, 97 years of age, of Winters, Texas, passed away in the Ballinger Healthcare and Rehabilitation Nursing home in Ballinger on July 15, 2023. Family Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on July 18, 2023, at the First Methodist Church in Winters. The funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on July 19, 2023, at the First Methodist Church in Winters. Reverend Samantha Chambers, Minister of the First Methodist Church and the St. Paul Methodist Church, both in Breckenridge, and Reverend Myron Halford, Minister of the Glory Road Cowboy Church in Ballinger will be officiating. Burial will follow at the Crews Cemetery at approximately 11:15 a.m. Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Winters Funeral Home. Jessie Irene Kennedy was born in Chatham, Louisiana on July 14, 1926, to Jesse Monroe Kennedy and Fannie Lavinia Morris Kennedy. Jessie and her six older siblings, Inez, Bess, Kermit, Hazel, Lois, and Sue moved to the Winnfield area where Jessie graduated from the Winnfield, Louisiana High School and then attended and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Education from Louisiana Tech. Following the end of World War II, Jessie was working as an instructor at the Huey P. Long Memorial Trade School in Winnfield, Louisiana, when a local "cupid" introduced Jessie to a young Navy veteran from Texas named Alfred Collom. After the war, Alfred, who went by Al, had attended the Southern Methodist University, on the G.I. Bill. Al laid out one semester to earn enough money to graduate by working for a geophysical company, which sent him to Winnfield, Louisiana. A loving relationship began between Jessie and Al that would last over 70 years! Al made enough money to return to SMU and following graduation, Jessie Irene Kennedy married Alfred Jerome Collom near Jonesboro, Louisiana, on March 4, 1950. Jessie and Al moved to Dallas, Texas, where Jessie and Al began working in careers that would prepare them to go to work for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in Houston, later called NASA's Johnson Spacecraft Center (J.S.C.). Jessie worked in NASA's Office of the Director and later transferred to the Accounting Department at J.S.C. where she worked until her retirement. The main programs conducted while Jessie and Al worked at J.S.C. were the Apollo Program and the Space Shuttle Program. Jessie and Al rode to work together and went to lunch together almost every day, like two best friends would do. Along the way Jessie and Al had two children, Keith and Larry. As adults, both Keith and Larry lived in the Crews, Texas Community and were in the cattle business. Upon retirement, Jessie and Al retired to their family farm they had purchased years earlier and joined their sons in the cattle business. After years living on the farm, they moved to the nearby town of Winters, where they lived until Al passed away in 2019. Jessie and Al were married for 69 years at the time Al passed away. Jessie missed her life's partner and spoke proudly of him every day to her loving family and friends. Jessie celebrated her 97th birthday on July 14th and passed away peacefully in her sleep on July 15th. Jessie is survived by two sons, Keith Collom and wife Lisa of Abilene and Larry Collom and wife Bobbie of Crews, granddaughter Amanda Collom and husband Mike Hoten of Ballinger and three great grandchildren Taytem Davis of San Angelo, Blake and Bailey Collom of Ballinger. Jessie is also blessed to be survived by grandchildren Scott Stone and wife Shelly, Darcy Carlisle and husband Scott, Kinzee Willis and husband Evan, Kenedee Latham and husband Mason, and Gage Reeves, and great grandchildren Tyler Stone and wife Whitney, Brad Stone and wife Kara, Jason Stone and wife Taylor, Zachary Carlisle and wife Amanda, Blake Hoten and RaeAnn, Autumn Hoten and fiancé Josh Mora, Jax, Leighton, and Gracyn Willis, great great grandchildren Reagan, Chandler, Ainsley, Knox, Major, Gideon, and Judah Stone, Carson Carlisle, and Georgia Mae Hoten, and special family members Blake and Kaysee Davis and children of Sterling City. Jessie is also survived by numerous loving nieces and nephews. Jessie was preceded in death by her husband Al Collom, her parents, Jesse and Fannie Kennedy, siblings Inez Barton, Bess Henderson, Kermit Kennedy, Hazel Howell, Lois Goins, and Sue Williams, grandson Courtney Collom, and numerous nieces and nephews. Jessie accomplished many achievements in her professional career including being named in the Who's Who at NASA's Annual Publication. Jessie served as a role model for many young women by being a member and later serving as the President of the Houston Chapter of the American Businesswomen's Association. Jessie was a life member of the Order of the Eastern Star and held many positions, including Worthy Matron. Jessie and Al loved their communities and humbly served every chance they got. Out of all of Jessie's accomplishments that she made in her life, she would tell anyone that would listen that her biggest accomplishment and the thing that she was most proud of---was her family. And anytime that you were around Jessie and anyone in her family or anyone that she made an honorary part of her family, you would not have to wait long before you could hear Jessie say that she "loved-loved-loved" you! Jessie and Al were the kind of parents, grandparents, and great grandparents that were steadfast in their faith, their love, their character, and their devotion to their family. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Loeys-Dietz Syndrome Foundation (LDSF).

Jessie Collom

July 14, 1926 - July 15, 2023