Jesse Bryant

Jesse Leo Bryant, 83, of Buckeye died on July 24, 2013, of illness at Hospice of the Valley, Palm Valley center in Goodyear.

Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday at J. Warren Funeral Services, Cole & Maud The Gardens Chapel. The graveside service will be at 11 in Mountain View Cemetery, with Pastor Harley Faber officiating.

Mr. Bryant was born on Sept. 21, 1929, in Delhi, La., but spent most of his life after serving in the Army in Arizona. He was a son of Mary and Henry Bryant. He moved to Willcox and lived with his sister Dorthy and brother-in-law M.J. Stegall, working as a farm hand. In the early ’50s he moved to Casa Grande, where he met Nora D. Holmes, his future wife and the love of his life. He became a police officer in Casa Grande and also was an officer in Alabama and Delhi, but he was a truck driver for most of his working career.

He loved country music and sang and played bass in a band in the early ’50s He drove a modified race car all over Arizona and New Mexico and held a track record at Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix for several years. His favorite thing to do was fishing with his wife. He loved life but most of all he loved his family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife; two brothers; a sister; and a grandson, Kirby Bryant. Survivors include a sister, Cooter; two sons, Larry and Bruce Bryant; two daughters, Leann Shamblin and Patty Mitchell; 14 grandchildren; and 28 great-grandchildren.

J. Warren Funeral Services, Cole & Maud The Gardens Chapel was in charge of arrangements.