Jessie Lee (Freemon) Portee was born May 17, 1929 to Isaac and Minnie Freemon. She was the youngest of eighteen children. She grew-up and attended elementary school in Kensett, Arkansas, graduating from high school in Kansas City, Kansas.
From her first marriage to Rudolph Mills, two daughters were born, Vivian L. and Dorothy L. Mills. In 1960 she met and married Nicholas B. Portee and they made their home in the Village of East Chicago Heights, Illinois (currently known as Ford Heights, Illinois). From this union were born two additional daughters, Anita L. and Dorice L. Portee.
For thirty-four years, Jessie worked as a Certified Cafeteria Manager (Dietitian) for School District 169, coordinating the daily operations and preparation of the breakfast and lunch programs for the three district schools. Programs which are continuing today in the spirit of excellence that she implemented years ago.
Mrs. Portee, as she was called, was known and loved by generations of students; many parents remembered her fondly from their own school days. Everyone knew and loved Mrs. Portee! She never let a child go hungry.
Jessie gave her life to Christ at a very early age. She later joined Progressive Missionary Baptist Church of East Chicago Heights, where she sang in the choir and was a cook for numerous annual events.
Her leadership skills and desire to serve her community was evident as she hired and mentored many young and older women and led them with an attitude of excellence.
Jessie loved traveling and fishing-as long as someone else baited her hook and took the fish off for her.
After retiring she and her husband moved to Las Vegas, Nevada. She joined From the Heart Church Ministries of Las Vegas, Nevada in 2014. She remained a member until her passing on October 31, 2018.
Jessie was preceded in death by her husband, Nicholas Portee, daughter, Dorothy L (Mills) Gossett, parents Ike and Minnie Freemon and 17 siblings. Jessie leaves to cherish her memory three daughters: Vivian L (Mills) Range (Nathaniel), Anita L (Portee) McCary (Charles), and Dorice L. (Portee) Wilson, nine grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren, five great-great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and adopted family members.
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