Jesse Derwin Waits

The Lord has called home a long time south Texas resident, music man and horse lover on September 26, 2024 due to Congestive Heart Failure at the age of 85 9 months and 5 days. Jesse D. Waits was born in Altus, OK in 1938 and he was the second son in a family of four boys, then three girls. Jesse’s father and mother, Lonnie O. Waits, Sr. and Dolly M. King were native Texans. The family moved back and forth between Texas and Oklahoma several times and the children attended schools in both states. Jesse graduated High School in Tomball, Texas where he also sang in a church quartet. In high school he played in a local teen band called the “Teen Tones” led by Sonny Wilcox. After high school, Jesse went into the US Air Force and was stationed in Omaha, Nebraska as an Air Policeman for four years. While there, he met Janice Schollian who has been his wife and cowgirl sweetheart for 62 years. They both worked in computer related jobs in Houston and the Conroe area but lived in Cut-N-Shoot near Conroe, Texas. They raised and showed quarter horses. Jesse and his beloved cutting horse, “ Colonel’s Dandy Doc” won the Bluebonnet Cutting Horse Assn, 2000 Limited Rider class in 1998. Also, there were two little Yorkie house dogs, Smokey Joe and Tuffy who brought Jesse a lot of love, joy and comfort.

Jesse was a Baptist and his family had generations of singers/musicians. With his Dad as a teacher, Jesse and older brother Shelby started playing around 10 years of age and they played guitar, mandolin, banjo and both sang lead and harmony and wrote songs. A song, Jesse wrote is called “A Cowboy Born 100 Years Too Late” which is exactly who he was. In Jesse’s teenage and adult years he played 50’s rock n roll, old country, gospel, family favorites and transitioned to bluegrass music when he retired. Jesse and Janice took their camping trailer to bluegrass festivals throughout, TX, MS, OK and AK where he would jam with his friends into the wee hours of the morning. He loved to play and sing bluegrass gospel on his Martin guitar. And one of his favorites was “Some Call it Heaven, I Call it Home” which was taught to him by a very good friend, JT Laney.

He loved his family very much and one of his favorite things was to play music at all of the family gatherings over the years.

He is survived by his wife, Janice, 1 brother (Shelby). He was preceded in departure by his parents and younger sister, Esta Wandell in 2013, middle sister Melva Zae (Mardi), oldest sister, Dolly Darlene and younger brother, Lonnie all in 2015 and Roland middle brother in 2021. He is also, survived by 16 nieces and nephews and many cousins in TX/OK/CO/TN/CA and WA state.

At his request, he was cremated and interred at Resthaven in Moore, Ok with all of his family members who have gone on before him. The family bids a loving temporary farewell to our cowboy, Jesse Waits.

A COWBOY, BORN A HUNDRED YEARS TOO LATE

Unpublished work © 1989 Jesse Waits

Just like the old time cowboys, he gets up at five

And to get to the job, it's a very long ride.

With a hundred years of progress, a few things have changed

Now his "Bronco" is made of steel, he rides the freeway, not the range.

Life is still a battle, just to get through the day.

There's always too much work, and never enough pay.

He's a Top Hand on the job and he does it with pride.

But, the job's now "Hi-Tech", not herding cows on a drive.

Chorus;

He yearns for the freedom of days long gone bye,

For the wide open spaces, beneath a clear, blue sky.

And to ride in the saddle and never stop for a gate.

In his mind, he's a cowboy.. born a hundred years too late.

His ranch is four acres, forty miles from downtown.

His herd is two horses, the best to be found.

For two days a week, he's a cowboy on his range.

But, come Monday morning, his whole life will change.

His music is country, his mentor John Wayne.

He loves his family and horses and the sound of a lonesome train.

The life that he's living, is the only one he has.

Still inside there's a longing, for a time that has passed.

Chorus;

He yearns for the freedom of days long gone bye, For the wide open spaces, beneath a clear, blue sky And to ride in the saddle, never stop for a gate.

In his mind, he's a cowboy.. born a hundred years too late,

Yes!, I'm a cowboy.. born a hundred years too late....