Obituary
He was born on June 2, 1929, in Madisonville, KY, to the late Sarah Basinger McGary and Jesse Watkins McGary. He is a 1947 graduate of Madisonville High School. He received his BS degree from Western Kentucky University with a degree in business and a minor in accounting. He was a proud veteran of the United States Air Force and actively served from July 20, 1951 until July 19, 1955. During his active military, he was in army occupation in Germany serving a year and a half at Landsberg Air Force Base and then a year and a half at Ramstein Air Force Base. He was a partner in McGary Brothers Furniture Store in Madisonville and later worked for Pony Express Delivery. He was a Chaplain and also served for years over the Madisonville Parades. Several clubs that he belonged to included VFW 5480 Madisonville Life Member, American Legion Post 6 Madisonville, sixty year member of Masonic Lodge 143, forty years with Shiner Rizpah, AARP Chapter Madisonville, Historical Society Charter Member for twenty-one years, and the Genealogical Society since 2024. Jesse was a member for over sixty-five years at First Baptist Church in Madisonville and recently attended Nortonville Baptist Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Rose McGary; second wife, Mary Lee McGary; and brothers, Edwin McGary, James McGary, and Bob McGary.
Survivors include his step-daughters, Sharon Denise Adams and Debra (Scott) Hulsey, both of Nortonville; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, April 21, 2025, in the chapel of Harris Funeral Home with Pastor Lee Davis officiating. Military honors will be conducted by the Hopkins County Honor Guard. Burial to follow at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Madisonville.
Visitation will be from 12 p.m. until the funeral hour on Monday at the funeral home.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.harrisfuneralinc.com
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