Jesse James Slone

Jesse James Slone, 21, of Mentone, formerly of Columbia City, died early Saturday morning, August 9, 2025, at Saint Joseph Hospital in South Bend. Born on November 28, 2003, along with his twin sister, Samantha, in Warsaw, Indiana, he was the son of Marshall B. and Lanti H. (Stump) Slone. He was later adopted by Pamela Hildebrandt. In 2022, he graduated from Tippecanoe Valley High School. Entering the trades, he worked as a welder and, more recently, at Rochester Iron & Metal in Rochester. Full of life, he loved to hang with friends and family, all the while listening to his favorite music. In the past few years, he took up fishing and was looking forward to becoming a family man. Gone but not forgotten, he leaves behind his significant other, Kayanna Ward; his mother, Lanti Stump of Mentone, his adoptive mother, Pamela Gaff of Columbia City; father, Marshall Slone of Silver Lake; and step-father, John Miller; siblings, Ashton Stump and Logan Miller both of Warsaw, Calvin Godwin of Vevay, Amy Godwin of Kendallville, and Misty Clingerman of Columbia City; aunts and uncles, Tobe Slone, Dawn Slone, Kim Slone, October (John) Rasmussen, Abie (Daytona) Stump, and Charles Kreider; cousins, Clinton, Xavier, John, Josiah, Allie, Atlas, Addie, Aaron, TJ, Kylie, and David; and many good friends. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Thomas J. Stump and Sandra S. (Gaff) Stump. Visitation is 3 to 6 p.m. on Saturday (August 16th) with a funeral at 6 p.m. at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City. Memorials in Jesse's honor are to final expenses c/o Smith & Sons Funeral Home.