Jess Herbert Dickenson

Funeral services for Jess Herbert Dickenson, 93, of Portales will be held at 2:00 PM, Tuesday, January 25,2022, in the Wheeler Mortuary Chapel with Rev. Rick Wilcher officiating. Burial will follow in the Melrose Cemetery with Milton Dickenson, Jason Dickenson, Jessie Ray Dickenson, Joshua Dockter, Anthony Dockter, Andy Nials, Junior Dickenson, Joe Snow and Mike Skeen serving as pallbearers.

Jess Herbert Dickenson was born on November 17, 1928 in Olton, Texas, to the home of Cora Beatrice and Herbert EP (Jack) Dickenson, and died on January 20, 2022, at home with his family by his side.  He had four sisters, Dorothy Fly, Daisy Dobeck, EP Scott and Mary Lou Kesler, and two brothers, Jackie Boy and James(Jim).

Jess attended school in Melrose all twelve years.  He then went to college at ENMU in Portales in the fall of 1948 through the spring of 1950.  Then he continued his studies at New Mexico A&M University in Las Cruces and graduated in the summer of 1952.  Jess received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Husbandry.  He was also a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity.  He worked at the ranch in Melrose for his father about a year after college and then joined the Army in 1952.  He was in the Army for three years during the Korean War and spent two years in Germany.  He was discharged in 1955 as a Sergeant.  Jess worked at the USDA from 1957 and retired after 27 years as the County Executive Director in 1985.

Jess married Rose Marie Watson on May 19, 1957 and were married for 65 years.  He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Jackie Boy and James and two sisters, Mary Lou and Dorothy.    

He is survived by his wife Rose Marie Dickenson; his two children, Milton Kent Dickenson & wife Amy and Carol Diane Dickenson & husband Andy Nials; his sisters, Daisy and E.P.; six grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren.

 Jess was a wonderful son, brother, husband, father, uncle and best PaPa in the world!  He enjoyed gardening, horse shoes, dominoes, dancing and watching the Dallas Cowboys play.  He always had a smile on his face and always made you feel special and loved.

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