Jessie Riley Harper

Jessie Riley Harper, 93, entered eternal rest on June 27, 2019 in Houston, TX. He was born January 23, 1926 in Manitou, OK to Royce and Clara Harper. Jessie graduated from Reagan High School and received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in education from the University of Houston. He served his country proudly in the US Marine Corps. He enlisted on 29 June, 1944, went to Boot Camp in San Diego then shipped out to the Camp Pendleton Training Battalion. In December of 1944, he boarded ship at San Diego and joined the 11th Marines, 1st Marine Division at Pavuvu in January, 1945, where he received training as a 4.5” Rocketman. He made the landing with 1st Marine Division on Okinawa in April 1945 and fought with the 7th Marines for Sugarloaf Hill. He deployed to Tiensten, China for occupational duty as a China Marine until October, 1946. He was then discharged from active duty and returned to Houston but stayed in the Reserves as a Sergeant of Marines, and received his degrees at University of Houston, graduating on June 5th. On June 6, 1950, he married Billie Jeanne McFarland. He immediately was assigned to 1st Marine Division’s Hotel Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines as a 60 mm mortar platoon sergeant and deployed to South Korea where he fought in Seoul and the Chosin Reservoir. He was wounded by shrapnel on December 7, 1950, suffered from frostbite and was medically evacuated for two months recovery in Japan. He then went back to S. Korea where he redeployed with his unit to the US. Unable to receive a commission because of his age, Jessie began his career in education for the Houston Independent School District serving as teacher, basketball coach, and assistant principal and principal at Burbank Junior High School and Jeff Davis High School for a total of 18 years. During this time, he became a member of the Chosin Few and for a couple of years served as President of the Houston Chapter. In this capacity he and a couple of his Chosin Few buddies taught some Korean War history classes to NROTC midshipmen at Texas A & M. He was a member of the Houston Former Marines and Devil Dogs and his passions were that of gardening, fishing and hunting. He could grow tomatoes better than most!

Medals and Campaign Ribbons include the Purple Heart, Combat Action ribbon w/ gold star, Presidential Unit Citation with 3 stars, Good Conduct Medal with 2 stars, Japan and China Occupation Service Medals, Marine Corps Reserve Medal, Marine Corps China Service Medal, Asia Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Campaign Medal (2), National Defense Ribbon, Korean War Service Medal with 3 stars, Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the United Nations Service Medal. Because he served with the 5th Marines, he was authorized to wear the French Fourragere.

Jessie is survived by his wife of 69 years: Billie Jeanne Harper; children: Delilah Miller & husband Allen, Sharon Shafer & husband Donald, Jessica Harper; grandchildren: Stephanie Mullin & husband Steve, Michael Miller, Matthew Miller; great grandchildren: Ryker Miller and Sebastian Thacker and Kade.

Visitation for family and friends will begin on Friday, July 5, 2019 at 10:30am with the funeral service to begin promptly at 12:30pm at Brookside Funeral Home, 13747 Eastex Freeway Houston, TX 77039. Interment to follow in the Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Dr. Houston, TX 77038 at 2:15pm.

The family requests donations, instead of flowers, to Alzheimers Association at www.alz.org/texas.