Jesse Ronald Calame, 78, of Wortham passed away May 28, 2022. He was born to Charles Edward “Son” and Louella McAdams Calame on March 31, 1944 in Teague, Texas. Jesse was raised in and around Wortham, where he graduated high school in 1962.
Jesse married his high school sweetheart, Susan Posey Calame, on June 23, 1962, and they enjoyed 43 years of marriage together before her death in 2005. He was a devoted husband and father to Susan and their four children. He had high expectations of his children (everyone, actually) and modeled and taught a good work ethic and financial responsibility. He valued education, and all four of his children graduated college. They resided in Murphy, TX for the majority of his working years.
Jesse loved cars and spent most of his career, 33 years, as a parts manager at Don Snell Buick in Dallas. He was a very dependable employee and won many awards for his work, including several overseas trips, before retiring to his farm outside of Wortham in 2000. He loved raising cattle and working hard on his ranch/farm.
Jesse loved all sports, especially football and baseball/softball which he played throughout his life, and was very competitive. He was a Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers fan and enjoyed watching high school and college football. An avid gun collector, Jesse was known to spend many late nights cleaning his guns, especially when his daughters were arriving home from dates. In his free time, he loved history, especially anything about WWII, and family genealogy. He would eat anything that was put on his plate, but especially enjoyed anything spicy, nuts, Fritos and bean dip, Coca Cola, and Blue Bell ice cream.
A perfectionist with attention to detail, he kept everything he owned meticulously clean and his yard well-manicured. If you needed a job done and done right, he was your man. Jesse was a calm, steady man who could always be depended upon. He loved helping people. He did everything above and beyond what you would ever expect. He also loved playing practical jokes and had a sarcastic sense of humor.
Jesse was preceded in death by his father, mother, wife, and brother, Charles Leslie Calame. He is survived by two brothers: Jerry Calame and wife Jenny of Fairfield and Tony Calame of Wortham, and three sisters: Glenda Anne Neese of Wortham, Elizabeth Hammond and husband Tom of Corsicana, and Nelda Mullenax of Kirvin, as well as his sister-in-law Dorothy Calame. He is also survived by his four children: Julie Girards of Dallas, Jan Calame of Lewisville, Jennifer McMichael of Frisco, and Jonathan Calame and wife Mandi of Wortham. He also leaves a legacy of 12 grandchildren: Jessica Samuel and husband Scott, Jordan Quaschnick, Jeremy Quaschnick, Val Calame, James Girards, Jonah Quaschnick, Jason Girards, Dana Calame, Kaylee Calame, Colt Calame, Audrey Calame, and Case Calame, as well as one great granddaughter, Victoria Samuel.
In order to honor Jesse’s life, the family had a visitation on June 1, from 6-7:30pm at First Baptist Church of Wortham. His service was held at 2 PM Thursday, June 2, 2022 at First Baptist Church of Wortham, followed by burial in Longbotham Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations can be made in his honor to the Longbotham Cemetery Association or First Baptist Church Wortham for the Christian Life Center.
