Jesse Watts, age 91, of Sycamore Healthcare Center, Quincy, died on Wednesday, May 25, 2016 in the home. He was born on July 8, 1924 on the family farm near Jerseyville, IL. He was the sixteenth of eighteen children born to parents, Jesse & Minnie Mabel (Smith) Watts, Sr. Their father stated, “I’m a farmer and I want, and got, lots of boys.”

Jesse didn’t know many of his siblings due to age differences, loss of several to WWII and them leaving home before his birth. Jesse loved pets and caring for animals. He and his sister Verna helped their mother on the farm by caring for chickens and sheep.

He moved to Quincy at the age of fourteen. He had a strong sense of right and wrong and felt he needed to work for whatever home he lived in to provide for his care. He swept walks daily at his Quincy homes to do this. Jesse never knew a stranger, claiming to everyone he saw, “I’ve known you a long time.”

He loved chocolate covered cherries!

He is survived by one sister, Verna Dillon and her husband Bob along with many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings, James, Celesta, Ethel, Eugene, Edna, Edward, Carl, Wendell, Harold, Delbert, Nora, Lloyd, Gordon, Darrell, Gaylen & Francis.

Graveside services will be held on Wednesday, June 1, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. in Woodland Cemetery. There is no visitation but friends are invited to the graveside services. The Duker & Haugh Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.