Jessie Clara Morrison Finch of Springfield Missouri, died peacefully on January 7, 2016. She was born in Jersey City, New Jersey on October 2, 1925 to the late Frank Morrison and Clara Taylor Morrison. Although not common for the times, a divorce occurred between her parents and Frank eventually married the late Dolly Morrison, who became her loving and caring step-mother. She was also preceded in death by her brothers Alfred “Al” Morrison & Robert “Bob” Morrison.
Jessie married on May 16, 1954 and became the beloved wife of the late John “Jack” Joseph Finch. In his pursuit for her attention, Jack introduced himself to her family, ingratiating his presence into their home, although Jessie was elsewhere with friends. Her family finally begged her to stay home one evening to “give this guy a chance”. Jack had finally won the love and affection of the girl in the polka dot dress! Some of their favorite pastimes was to ballroom dance, entering foxtrot competitions and amassing numerous trophies. The family finds great solace in believing they are now reunited and dancing to the music of Frank Sinatra. Frank Sinatra was a favorite of Jessie’s, as she had even skipped school to be in attendance for his performances at the Paramount Theatre in New York City.
Jessie is survived by her family who she selflessly loved, John Francis Finch (Dianna), Robert “Bob” Thomas Finch (Doris), Marianne Elizabeth Guttin (Keith) and Kenneth “Ken” James Finch (Julie). Her pride and joy was evident when she spoke of her grandchildren, Kevin Finch, Madeline “Maddy” Finch, Lauren Guttin Hediger (Jon), Lindsey Guttin, Samantha Guttin, Amy Finch, Kelly Finch, Scott Finch and Sean Finch. Her sister in-law, Marie Arnold, and her family Jack Hagen (Julie), Cathleen Hagen, Christine Hagen, Dan Hagen, and many loving nieces, nephews and extended family members.
Jack and Jessie lived in New Jersey eventually settling into the borough of Paramus. Jessie modeled and sold clothing for Sealfon’s a retail women’s clothing store, of which she often fondly reminisced how they encouraged the customer to “Please touch the clothes, you’ll love it”. In 1970, they moved their family to Springfield, Missouri where Jessie gained employment with Southwest Missouri State (now Missouri State) working in the Controller’s office until her retirement. Retirement gave her the opportunity to travel and visit family and friends. She could be found among the stands as an avid fan in attendance for the Missouri State Bear Baseball games, cheering for the team her son-in-law, Keith, coached. In recent years she attended the Southside Senior Center functions and activities where she made a wealth of friends and enjoyed the company of her sister in-law, Marie, who graciously accompanied her to the center.
After Jack’s passing in 2000, Jessie was generously accepted into the home of her daughter and son in-law’s family, allowing her to enjoy the past 17 years as a member of the Guttin household with 3 giggly girls who became beautiful young women. Her family has grown with the marriage of her first grand-daughter, Lauren to Jon Hediger in 2014. She was fortunate to attend the engagement of her grand-daughter, Maddy, this past summer and was looking forward to the addition of Joshua “Josh” Ibarra to her ever expanding family.
Services for Jessie will be at 9:30 am Tuesday, January 10, 2017 at Greenlawn Funeral home East with interment following at Missouri Veterans Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 pm Monday. January 9, 2017 in the funeral home.