Jessie Olive Kathleen Wilson

Jessie Olive Kathleen Wilson - Sue to her friends. Born: 11 October 1921 to parents Douglas James Joseph Doneghar and Florence Adelaide Tonkin; Jessie grew up in Manly, Sydney Australia with her brothers and sisters. Manly was a fun place to be and was the epitome of life in Australia, sand, surf, family and friends. Today we come together in a celebration of Aunty Jess' life; a celebration of Aunty Jess going home to God and reuniting with loved ones passed over. Our family wish to celebrate the life of Aunty Jess by sharing some things you may not know about her and share with you what Aunty Jess means to us. Aunty Jess met the love of her life Raymond Dale Wilson a US Navy marine on l " June 1942 at the biggest dance hall in Sydney 'The Trocadero' - I remember her expression to me when telling the tale 'boy that sure was the place to be and I got the prize that day.' They became engaged in August of that year and were married 6th March 1943. They were blessed to spend 62 glorious years together until Uncle Rays passing in March 2005. Aunty Jess left her family in Australia as a war bride in October of 1945 and it was many years before they would see each other again; on her trips home to Oz the family had the best fun together. During the war and before travelling to America Aunty Jess worked in a furniture factory in Roseberry where she was involved in making the internals for the landing barges used at Normandy. Aunty Jess had a strong faith that served her well and sustained her during her life; through the passing of her baby son Robert Hildra Wilson in Australia before travelling to America, and the many ups and downs experienced during a lifetime. Aunty Jess could not have any more children and this was heavy on her heart; she showered love on all her nieces and nephews. She really enjoyed and looked forward to getting letters from Oz. It was a journey of love travelling all the way to America; exciting but scary all at once. It was this love that sustained Aunty Jess throughout her life. She was blessed to have a wonderful husband who loved, respected and cared for her as deeply as anyone could. In the last decade of her life Aunty Jess was also so blessed to have the treasured friendship of Helen and Ralph who have been a rock for her and are as much family as anyone can be to Aunty Jess and as they are to our extended family in Australia. Our family would like to pay tribute to Aunty Jess - the matriarch of our family. A recent post on facebook says it well. "A grand lady has passed away, a long way from family 15500 miles over the North Pacific Ocean. Connected by the Love of her family, we love you and miss you already." I think that if Aunty Jess could be here it! person today she would say to all of you the following: Thank You. As I come to the end of my journey and look back over my shoulder at my life path - what do I see? I see Love - the love of my family, friends and of God; love for my family, friends and for God; the kindness of strangers and the many blessings I have been fortunate to receive. I see the challenges that carved me and moulded my life. I see I was fortunate and had a cherished and blessed life. I thank you all for being a part of my life journey, for taking the time to talk, to listen, to write, to laugh, to love, to hope and to enjoy wondrous moments with me. I say to my family and to my friends how grateful I am to have had you bless my life. Love doesn't make the world go round but it does make the ride worthwhile and I have had a truly worthwhile ride. God bless you all. To Aunty Jess we say "We will not say goodbye rather until me meet again. You've left so much in the hearts of those you've touched for you were loved so much. Love to you from all the family." Visitation for Jessie Sue will be from 7:-9 p.m., Wednesday, June 20, 2012, at the funeral home. Funeral will be 10 a.m., Thursday, at Highland Valley United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Concord Cemetery at Furlow that afternoon at 1:30 p.m., under the direction of Griffin Leggett Healey & Roth, 5800 W. 12th Street, Little Rock, Arkansas 72204. 501-661-9111. Please feel free to send the family messages of love, comfort and share memories at her online guest resgistry, www.griffinleggetthealeyroth.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Highland Valley United Methodist Church.