She was born Maizie Torney Ryan Harris on July 16, 1934, in the Presidio in San Francisco, California,
to US Army Colonel Albert Everett Harris and Katharine Ryan Harris.
It was in Reno, Nevada, where she met and married Edward A. Jesse and they had five children
together.
Raised as an Army brat, Jesse began performing at an early age. When she was four, she was invited
to go on the “Major Bowes” radio show to sing “East Side, West Side, All Around the Town.” She went
on to tap dance for the USO in Germany and performed “You Can’t Take it With You” for the Army
Special Services. Jesse was accepted by the Pasadena Playhouse and was also offered a Decca
Records contract, both of which she turned down.
Because of her father’s military service, her family moved from Army post to Army post throughout
the United States and lived in Heidelberg, Germany, for two years immediately following World War
II, during the Allied Occupation. Her love of travel continued for the remainder of her life having
made trips to Europe, Southeast Asia, Canada, and many states within the U.S.
Her first job was setting pins in a bowling alley, then working as an artist’s model, and doing voice-
overs for Ford Motor Co.
She attended the University of Kansas and the University of Nevada, Reno.
Maizie moved to Carson City from Lovelock in 1962, where she was a stringer for the Associated Press
and helped stage the PTA variety shows at her children’s school. She also had bylines in the San
Francisco papers, the London Times, and the New York Post.
She co-founded Carson City’s Proscenium Players acting troupe, ran for city supervisor in 1969 and
lieutenant governor in 1994, and retired from the Nevada State Employment Security Department.
Her volunteerism was legendary from doing storybook theater at the Lear Theater, writing a column in the
Nevada Appeal with Carolyn Tate (Nobody Asked Us…But), working in the medical clinic at FISH, volunteering at the Carson City Library, working at the State Railroad Museum, helping with a hospice program, and much more.
She was famous for her Nevada Day parade performances as a witch and on parade day one could
always find her and her longtime partner, Terry Ward, at the corner of Fifth and Carson Streets, in
front of the Ormsby House.
In 2010, the Black Box Theater at the Brewery Arts Center was named after her. She was greatly
honored by this recognition as was her family.
She resided at Sierra Place in Carson City and loved the people there. One of her favorite times was
after dialysis, when driver Devon would take her to Starbuck’s for a chai latte. The staff lovingly
referred to it as “Driving Miss Maizie.” The family would like to thank Sierra Place for the excellent
care of their mother.
Jesse is survived by her partner of 30+ years, Terry Ward; five children: Helaine Morres (Clark), Claire
Clift (Jim), Ward, Everett (Tamera), and Kirk; her sister Kress Whalen (Brian); three cousins: Janet
Swobe, Trina Harris, and Billy Eddelman; four grandchildren: Everett Jr., Tyler (Christina), Ryan,
Magdalena Gurr (Joshua); two great grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.
She was fascinating, enthusiastic, talented, intelligent, controversial, unabashed, but most
importantly, warm, and generous. She was larger-than-life, and the love that she gave and received
from family and friends matched her large personality.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Maizie Harris Jesse Black Box Theater at the Brewery
Arts Center or to a charity of your choice.
A celebration of life is planned for the fall.
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