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Jesse Rufus Fears, IV, beloved son of Professor J. Rufus Fears (deceased) and Mrs. J. Rufus Fears of Norman and cherished younger brother of Betsy Fears of Oklahoma City passed away peacefully at home January 25, 2015.
Jesse, age 22, was a lifelong resident of Norman and a proud graduate of Jackson Elementary School, Alcott Middle School and Norman High. He was his dad’s constant companion and devoted assistant whether it was tracking down a lost Civil War battle line, landing a whopping swordfish, following the Lewis and Clark Trail from beginning to end, or making a mean bowl of chili. Jesse struggled for many years with increasing medical challenges due to a very rare and incurable degenerative brain disease. He faced this with enormous courage, grace and humor. His devoted teacher, Mrs. Debra Wilson of Dimensions Academy, and his fellow classmates supported him with unfailing love, loyalty, understanding and kindness.
In addition to his father, Jesse is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Emory B. Fears, Sr., by his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Bauer, by his aunt, Elaine Bauer Ganka, and his uncle, George M. Bauer, all of the Atlanta metro.
Jesse is survived by his aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Callaham of Morganton, North Carolina, and by his cousins Bill, John and Tom also of North Carolina; by his aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Emory B. Fears, Jr. of Atlanta and by his cousin Ashley of Murfreesboro, TN; and by his aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Ganka of Atlanta, and by his cousins Charlie, Geordan and Tom, all of Metro Atlanta.
Our family would like to thank so many who have enriched his life and eased his final days, including Paul and Bridget Smith, his longtime Boy Scout leaders, his special-ed teacher Mrs. Debra Wilson, and his school counselor Ms. Stephanie Walker, the Make A Wish Foundation for fulfilling his life-long wish to visit the WWII beaches of Normandy, and his OU Health Science Center physicians Dr. Andrea Hakimi, Dr. Philip Rettig, Dr. Michael Sitkiakowsky, Dr. David Tiller, and Dr. Stephen Travis as well as Dr. Elaine Wirrell of the Mayo Clinic-Rochester. We also would like to thank the physicians and staff of Norman Regional Hospital Emergency Room and the members of the Newcastle Emergency crews for their help and support these past ten years. Finally, we would like to express our deep gratitude to the entire staff of Loving Care In Home Health Care/Hospice, especially Ms. Kim Roberts, RN, and Jesse’s caregivers Linda Thompson, Natalie Corn and Alexa Loveless.
There will be an open visitation for family and friends at Havenbrook Funeral Home in Norman on Thursday evening, January 29, between 8am-8pm with family receiving friends from 6pm-8pm.
No funeral service will be held. Instead, an informal celebration of Jesse’s life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, Jesse would appreciate contributions to the Make A Wish Foundation.
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