Jessie Wade Anderson

Jessie Wade Anderson was born in Hobbs, New Mexico, on June 6th, 1962, to parents Jessie Cornell Anderson and Mollie Corrine Anderson (Harris). He graduated from Odessa High School in 1980 and with the exception of 4 years in Round Rock, Texas, he lived his life in Odessa. He was married to Belinda Kiser for 43 years; the couple had two (2) children, Malerie and Evan, and had a family of friends that showered love and support for his lifetime.

On March 2nd, 2025, Jessie passed away from sudden cardiac arrest. He had been in Bruceville-Eddy over the past weekend celebrating his granddaughter, Amity, and her 3rd birthday. He and Belinda spent the preceding days with both of their children and his mother and siblings that live in the area.

Jessie Wade was first and foremost a big brother. The Anderson Family of 4 boys was a wild household—always waiting for their parents to leave the house to drink coffee with friends or to go vote to settle the sibling score within the house. The boys had adventures that rivaled tall tales and traipsed through the neighborhood looking for fun anywhere they could find it.

Baseball loomed large in Jessie Wade’s life. He played as a kid, even skipping out on a family vacation during the summer, to stay home with his grandmother so he could play summer baseball. He played church league after graduating from high school and coached his wife’s team for Texas Commerce Bank. He followed the games on TV and watched the Texas Rangers regularly, but his passion was reignited when he and his childhood friend, Ken Black, started making the trip to Omaha for the College World Series. He cheered from a seat next to his best friend that shared the love of the game and knew well the source of joy baseball offered as a child and had sustained their friendship for 50 years.

Senior year in high school brought changes to Jessie Wade’s life when his parents adopted 6 siblings into their family. Jessie’s life changed from being a brother to 3 to becoming a big brother to an additional 6, including girls. As life would have it, his parents were needed in nearby Lubbock to care for Jessie’s ailing grandfather in that first year with the kids, and Jessie as the oldest, took up the helm of caring for the kids and the household.

Belinda Kiser caught Jessie’s attention in the high school hallways at OHS. It took patience and persistence before the two went on their first date. The couple were married at Temple Baptist in Odessa on June 20th, 1981 and couldn’t wait to drive to South Padre for their honeymoon; the 19-year olds were in love, on their own, and at the beach. They were ready to build their own lives together.

He had a fierce independent streak that guided his life; he instilled that sense of confidence and determination in both of his children and encouraged them both to live lives they loved. Jessie was a present and involved parent. He drove carpool to practices and school and was involved as a coach, on the sidelines, in the stands, and in the audience for recitals and performances.

Jessie was determined to make his family proud and his work ethic was a testament to his father. He initially expounded on the skills he learned in high school as a welder and worked with his dad in their own business, Anderson Rig Service. When the bust came, the business closed and his parents and siblings moved to Bruceville-Eddy, Texas. He stayed in Odessa with his wife, Belinda, and found employment as a seasonal helper with UPS. His diligence and reliability during that peak season earned him a permanent position with UPS. He ascended to management roles and after 19 years with UPS, including a move that relocated his family to Round Rock, Texas, his family of friends offered him a place in their business and a move back to Odessa to be near Belinda’s parents. Ken Black and Johnny Kidd brought Jessie and his family back to Odessa and Jessie joined Inter-American Oil Works, Inc. as CNC Machine Shop Foreman. He had been in that role for 19 years when he passed.

Jessie’s life of 62 years was filled with strength and joy and compassion. He was generous to others, in making sure his regular wait staff at Chili’s were tipped well, and carrying umbrellas in his truck in case he found someone on a walk without one. He was a consistent presence at the largest Meals on Wheels fundraiser, Mudbug, each year, helping with the crawfish that so many looked forward to.

Jessie’s infectious good-spirit and laugh attracted people throughout his life. His children’s friends especially enjoyed time spent with Jessie and over the years, he continued to tell his and Belinda’s story of how they met, his time spent in welding competitions and boxing in his younger days, and his pride for his children. Evan Wade Anderson is a UPS driver in Austin, Texas; Malerie Anderson Miller is an attorney with Steptoe-Johnson PLLC in Dallas, Texas.

The family asks that you share your memories in the online guestbook.

Contributions to Southwest Transplant Alliance are appreciated. https://organ.kindful.com/

A celebration of life service for Jessie will be held Saturday, March 8, 2025 at 10:00 AM at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home, 601 North Alleghaney, Odessa, TX 79761.