Jesse Neilson Bennett II

Jesse Neilson Bennett II, Navy veteran, high school basketball star and dedicated family man, died July 15, 2014. He was 71. Jesse was born Sept. 20, 1942 in New Orleans to Joan Adell and Jesse Neilson Bennett. He had three younger siblings, Thelma, Roy and Patricia Bennett along with two older half siblings, Joan and Louis Ray. After his mother's death when he was 11, the four younger children moved into the Methodist Children's Home in Ruston, Louisiana. In high school, Jesse became a great basketball player. He played in the state championship game in 1962 and his picture still hangs on the wall at Ruston High School. Following a brief semester at Louisana Tech, Jesse joined the Navy and went off to fight in the Vietnam War. He served two years as a seaman on the U.S.S. Washburn, an attack cargo ship. Later, he transferred to the U.S.S. Sumner County as a storekeeper for another two years. In 1964 Jesse met Violet Elaine Strack through a mutual friend on the ship. What started as letter writing between friends turned into love, and on Dec. 4, 1965, Jesse and Elaine were married at the Navy Family Chapel in Long Beach, California. Jesse spent 27 years working for the Navy as a civilian employee; there he held several positions ranging from a plumber and pipefitter to a planner and estimator. Jesse and Elaine had two children, Elizabeth Viola Adele Bennett and Jesse Neilson Bennett III. He and his wife bought a house in San Marcos in 1978 and there they raised their children. When Jesse wasn't working, he enjoyed watching the San Diego Charger's play football on TV, tending to his plants, cooking breakfast for his family, and nurturing the family pets. On July 15, Jesse had just finished taking his beloved Pomeranian, Buddy, for a second walk of the day and was pulling weeds in his garden with his wife Elaine when he had a massive stroke that left him unresponsive. There was nothing that could be done, and the following morning he was declared brain dead. Jesse's liver and kidney's were donated. Jesse is preceded in death by his son, and was laid to rest beside him on July 22 in the San Marcos Cemetery in a private family ceremony. He is survived by his wife Elaine, daughter Elizabeth Evans, granddaughter Julie, brother Roy Bennett and sisters Patricia Bennett and Thelma Nowacki. The memorial service to honor Jesse's life and his dedication to his country will be held at Emmanuel Faith Community Church in Escondido on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014 at 1 p.m.

Jesse Neilson Bennett II

September 20, 1942 - July 16, 2014