John Wesley Bethune

Wesley was born in Kansas City, Missouri to Vernon and Joyce. His family traveled to Los Angeles and then back, settling in Paris, Arkansas where he grew up. The high school wanted him to play football because he was always such a big and tall man, but he knew that was for stupid kids. The army recruiters came and wanted him to join the army, but he knew that was for really a stupid kids. Instead he ran away from home and went to Canada, but later came back, got his GED, and his instructors said he was the smartest student in his class.

After a brief stint as a surveyor in Montana and Louisiana, where he liked to be outside with the land, he settled in Houston in the early 1990s. Among many jobs helping people, he met his life partner and love, Sally Jacobs.

Always wanting to find more ways to help people, he was inspired by Amy Goodman's “Democracy Now” to become a volunteer at KPFT, Pacifica Station. He served on the local Houston station board of KPFT and was later elected to the National Board of Pacifica where he helped plan the direction of the Pacifica Network. He produced program material highlighting contributions of great artists like Bob Marley and Mutabaruka.

Wesley and Sally met in 1998 and began the next chapter of their life together in West Houston. They loved going to plays, traveling to Jamaica, and listening to all types of music together from Bach, to Styx, to Peter Tosh. For almost 25 years, they were loving partners, caregivers to Sally’s Granddaughters Abby and Emma, and loving parents of their dogs Dale, Peppin, Pepper, and Lola.

Sally’s children, Ben and Tammy, are also eternally grateful for all the love, humor, and friendship Wesley gave their mother…when no one else really could.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.waltripfuneraldirectors.com for the Bethune family.