Jess was born in Ironton, Ohio, January 29, 1942, a son of Arthur Stapleton and Dorothy Martin Stapleton. He loved animals, especially eagles, and was particularly protective of his chihuahua, Rocky. He was a jack of all trades, could fix, repair or work on anything. Jess worked as an electrician for Harris Teeter and retired in 1998 after thirty years of service.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur Stapleton and Dorothy Martin Stapleton; daughter, Jessie Sue Stapleton Bare; three sisters and five brothers.
Jess is survived by his wife of fifty six years, Melanie Hall Stapleton; daughter, Beverly Tucker and husband John Tucker; son, Jerry Stapleton; seven grandchildren, Joshua Bare, Sarah Jones, Casey Bare, Katie Small, Jay Stapleton, Joanna Stapleton and Melanie Dawn Stapleton; seven great-grandchildren; sister, Freda Meadows; and brother, Forest Stapleton.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made In Memory of Jess to The American Eagle Foundation, PO Box 333, Pigeon Forge, TN 37868; or online at eagles.org.
A graveside service for Jess will be held at 2:00 PM, Monday, June 1, 2020, at Floral Garden Park Cemetery in High Point, North Carolina.
Sechrest Funeral Service is honored to serve the Stapleton family. Memories and online condolences may be shared at sechrestfunerals.com.