Homer "Bud" Lee Hess

HOMER L. "BUD" HESS, JR., lifelong resident of Grand Junction, retired business owner and member of a family long active in the business, civic and community affairs of Grand Junction and surrounding area, died at 1:40 P.M. Saturday, January 19, 2008 at the Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis where he had been a patient for five days. He was 86 years of age and died following an extended illness of several months.
Funeral services for Mr. Hess were conducted at 2 P.M. Monday at the Peebles Main Funeral Chapel in Somerville with Rev. Jim McKinney, III, pastor of the Grand Junction United Methodist Church, officiating. Interment, with military recognition followed in the Bolivar Memorial Park Cemetery at Bolivar, TN. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Home - Main Chapel of Somerville.
A native of Grand Junction, Mr. Hess was born January 5, 1922, the son of the late Homer Lee Hess, Sr. and the late Ruth Mabel Stroup Hess, early residents of the Grand Junction area. He received his education in the Hardeman County school system and was a graduate of the Grand Junction High School. Mr. Hess was a longtime member of the Grand Junction United Methodist Church and served in the United States Army from 1943 to 1945. Mr. Hess was married February 26, 1949 to the former Martha Evelyn Walker of Shelby County who preceded him in death September 18, 1995.
Mr. Hess was a lifelong resident of Grand Junction, other than while serving in the United States Army. Before his retirement, he operated for many years the Hess Garage and the Hess Gin Company that was established by his father. In earlier years, Mr. Hess also operated Hess Wrecker Service.
Involved throughout his life in community activities, Mr. Hess served as Fire Chief for the Grand Junction Volunteer Fire Department for over twenty-five years. He was a longtime member of the Grand Junction Board of Alderman and served as Town Treasurer of Grand Junction before his retirement. He was a charter member of the Grand Junction Ruritan Civic Club and was a familiar figure in the community visiting with friends and family at the Hess Garage, the local gathering place for the entire area. He was a member of the "Grand Junction Coffee Club" where the local news was known long before the weekly newspaper was published.
He is survived by two daughters, Abbey Hess Evans (Dan) of Martinez, GA, Rosalyn L. Hess of Lake Mary, FL; one son, Clifford Lee "Cliff" Hess (Patti) of Harriman, TN and 4 grandchildren, Brook Hess (Misuk) of Liverpool, NY, Leland Evans, Will Evans and Adrian Evans, all of Martinez, GA
Mr. Hess was preceded in death by his sister, Mattie Rose Hess.
The family requests that memorials be directed to the Grand Junction United Methodist Church or to the Grand Junction First Baptist Church.