Jessie Francis Zebley, age 90, went home to her precious husband, Donald on Friday, June 19, 2020. Jessie was born April 29, 1930 to Jessie and Springer Francis in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. The youngest of 6 children, Jessie arrived into this world fiercely independent and kept this quality throughout her entire life.
On September 11, 1948, Jessie married her soul mate, Donald Zebley and they celebrated 64 wonderful years of marriage before Donald was called home. Jessie and Don had 3 children, Scott, Eric and Karen. In 1989, Eric married Calista, who became their second daughter. In 1991, Karen married Jan, who became their third son. Jessie and Don were blessed with 7 grandchildren. Eric and Calista have 2 daughters, Paige and Annalise. Karen and Jan have 5 children, Amy, Rachel, Emily, Mitchell and Amanda. In 2016, Reed Stricsek became part of Jessie and Don’s legacy as he married their oldest granddaughter, Amy.
Jessie graduated from North Union High School in Uniontown, Pennsylvania in 1948. 3 months after graduation, she married Don. She described Don as the perfect match for her and held so many fond memories of their time as a young married couple, such as, meeting for lunch every day as they worked together at Metzler’s Department Store in Uniontown. In 1952, Don enlisted in the Army and they moved to Lemonster, Massachusetts, where they spent some of the happiest years of their lives. Don completed his service in the Army in 1956, and the couple returned to Uniontown.
In 1960, Jessie and Don were blessed with their first son, Scott. In 1963, another blessing arrived as they welcomed Eric into their family. Jessie was a homemaker and wonderful Mom to Scott and Eric while Don went to college during the day and worked as a truck driver at night. Jessie described these years as fulfilling and busy as she cared for her 2 young sons while Don ultimately graduated with a Masters’ Degree in School Psychology from West Virginia University.
In 1969, Jessie began having bouts of nausea that would not clear up, which caused her to go to the doctor to diagnose the cause. The diagnosis came as quite a surprise, she was expecting a baby. In May 1970, her third child, Karen arrived and her family was complete.
Jessie and Don always loved Florida, often coming to visit her older sister, Hennie, who lived in Tampa. When Karen arrived in 1970, the couple decided it was time for a move. The Zebley family arrived in Clearwater in August 1970 and she lived in the same house until she was 89 years old.
Jessie worked in retail for her entire career. In 1976, after being a stay at home mom with Karen until she went to Kindergarten, Jessie was hired as an associate in the Men’s Department at Burdines, when it opened its doors at the new Clearwater Mall. Jessie worked for Burdines for 14 years. During her time as an associate she made many special friends, was the secretary of the “B Club” and became an invaluable member of the Burdines family.
Jessie’s quiet, inner strength was an inspiration to all who knew her. No matter how difficult or heartbreaking a situation was, she handled it with grace and dignity, reminding everyone that “this too shall pass”. She died as she lived, on her own terms, while looking after those she loved the most.
Jessie was predeceased by her husband of 64 years, Donald, and her oldest son, Scott.
As a lasting tribute to Jessie’s love for dogs the family respectfully requests in lieu of flowers donations be made to: Suncoast Animal League, 1030 Pennsylvania Ave., Palm Harbor, FL 34683, In memory of Jessie Zebley.
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