Jess W Carr Jr.

Services will be held in his honor at Memory Chapel Funeral Home, 2200 Skyland Blvd. East in Tuscaloosa, officiated by Kramer Mize, on Tuesday, December 3, at 2:00 PM. The family will host a visitation one hour prior to the service.

Jess is preceded in death by his father Jess Willard Carr Sr. (Oveda Carr) and his mother Ruth Hare (C.S. Hare).

Jess is survived by his sons Jonathan Carr (Lisa) and Jeremy Carr (Margaret), granddaughters Savannah Humphryes (Avery) and Joli Carr, brother Mike Carr (Kim), sister Sandra Hare, and special friends Linda Carr, Beth and Bob Cleere, Dan Green, and Sequoia Brown.

Jess was born on January 5, 1945, to Jess Willard Carr Sr. and Ruth Hare. He graduated from Gadsden High School in 1963 and enrolled in the University of Montevallo. He then transferred to Livingston University (now the University of West Alabama) where he majored in chemistry. He worked the weekends at Liberty Supermarket in Birmingham and the lab at Goodyear during the summers, paying entirely for his education. During his college career, he was an active member, even serving as president, of his fraternity, Tau Kappa Epsilon. He was also involved with IFC at Livingston, SGA, and was selected as Who’s Who’s in American Colleges and Universities in 1970.

To remain in Livingston and continue his education, he taught at Sumter County High School while completing a Master’s degree in School Administration. He taught chemistry at Holt High School and Tuscaloosa High School for several years. After several years of teaching, he began working for various companies as a successful salesman in the concrete industry. Maintaining his interest in chemistry, he primarily sold admixtures. During his career, he earned many awards and maintained relationships with others in the industry even after he retired to care for members of his family.

Despite having a large work territory, he drove countless miles to be present at his son’s academic and sports activities. Jess never met a stranger; throughout his career, he made friends from all walks of life, all over the Southeast. He was always caring, concerned about others, and willing to help people in any way that he could. He enjoyed Alabama sports, especially football and gymnastics, and was a long-time season ticket holder for both. He was a generous person with a flair for gift giving, especially interesting gadgets, and will be remembered fondly by family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Shriner’s Hospitals for Children at donate.lovetotherescue.org.