Jessie Vance

Jessie was born and raised in Anadarko, Ok graduating with the Class of 1965 from Anadarko High School. She was born too Nancy Annie Thomasson (Lunsford) and Arnold Lafeyete Thomasson. She was the youngest and last child born to a home of 5 sisters and 2 brothers. She passed away on Monday, March 7, 2022 with her family by her side.
While in high school Jessie met the love of her life, Rufus Vance Jr, while working at the tasty freeze in Anadarko, Ok. Junior an Jessie were United in marriage on July 23rd, 1966 in Wichita Falls, Tx. Shortly after marriage Junior shipped out to basic training for the US Air Force. Jessie stayed in Anadarko and got a job working at Gold Kist peanut mill while Junior was away serving his country. When Junior returned home stateside to Jessie for good after serving all over the South Pacific they were stationed in Altus, Ok for a short while and Jessie then begin her long and loving life of being a homemaker and eventually a mother. When Junior was honorably discharged from the Air Force in 1970. He went to work for Wellex out of Liberal, Kansas so another move for the Vance’s and another house to make a home for Jessie. In 1972 Junior took a job at Dayton tire an Rubber in Oklahoma, City where him an Jessie would eventually settle down on Mitchell Dr in Midwest city, Ok. Here life would bring Jessie two of her greatest joys in life her two boys. First Jeffery Jason (J.J.) Vance on January 29th, 1977 and then Jeremy Justin Vance on February 19th, 1983. Jessie raised her two boys in Midwest city until they both completed there high school education. Jessie was an amazing mother not only to her two boys but her mothering love touched pretty much every family member that she was ever around weather it be nieces, nephews, cousins you name if you needed her she was there with advice, love, an a servants heart. After Juniors retirement the Vance’s moved back to Anadarko where Jessie would go on being that loving wife, that supportive mother, that caretaker for family members that could no longer care for themselves. Jessie unselfishly gave her whole life to love. To the love of her immediate family, to grandkids she was so absolutely proud of an loved, to her “kids� in the family that all know who they are she gave her supportive advice and love. Jessie Nell was the mother we all wished we had and she lived up to the title in every since of the word. We are all so lucky to have had someone as great as her in our lives. Jessie lost Junior to cancer after 51 years of marriage on May 3rd, 2018. Jessie spent the last years of her life living with her son Jeremy and his wife Melissa where they got to give a fraction of of all that love back.
Jessie was preceded in death by her husband Rufus Vance Jr. Her mother and father Annie and Arnold; 4 sisters: Annette McNamar, Shirley Gautheir, Alice Thomasson, Veda Randle; 2 brothers: George Thomasson and Bobby Thomasson; her mother and father in law, Rufus Vance Sr an Elise Vance.
Jessie is survived by her two sons: JJ Vance and his wife Adra of Anadarko, Jeremy Vance and his wife Melissa of Anadarko; her pride and Joy her grandkids: Ezra Vance, Drew (Brandi) Vance, Austin Bowman, Cheyenne Vance, Lyndon Vance, an Matthias Vance; one sister Mary Gray of Midwest City, OK; two Brother’s in law Clarence McNamar of Anadarko, OK an Don Vance of Choctaw, OK; one sister in law Glenda Robertson of Lawton, OK, and so so many nephews,nieces, cousins and anyone she ever touched with her mothering love.
A special thank you to all the nurses at health back home health and kindful hospice for your compassion and care for our mother.
Funeral services will be at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, March 12, 2022 at the Bethel Baptist Church in Anadarko. Alan Janzen will officiate. Burial will follow in the Memory Lane Cemetery in Anadarko. Services are under the direction of Smith Funeral Home, Anadarko, OK.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.smithfuneralservices.com.