Jessie Gaines Gorham

On February 8th, 2021, the Angels came and escorted Jessie Raye Gaines Gorham into Heaven and Jesus received a beautiful believer with open arms.  Jessie was born on September 17, 1932 at her parents' home in Hall Summit, Louisiana and was 88 yrs old. Jessie was the youngest of 11 children and was affectionately known as the "baby" to her siblings, "Aainie" to her relatives and "Nanni" to her grandchildren, great grandchildren and friends who all considered her to be their grandmother.  As her first job, Jessie was a switch-board operator for the telephone company.  It was there that she met the love of her life, Harvey Joe Gorham, a retired Navy veteran, who was working as a telephone lineman.  Jessie loved telling the story of how Harvey would call into the switchboard office and asked the other operators to "patch me in to Jessie" so they could talk when he was working on the line.  Harvey and Jessie met on a blind date.  Both fell madly in love and they got married just 5 months later on July 10, 1953.  Jessie continued her education and became an X-Ray tech and later a nurse, which was her calling.  Harvey and Jessie moved from Louisiana to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida where they lived for 20 years before moving to Craig, Colorado where they resided for over 30 years. Jessie worked as a nurse for the Moffat Family Clinic.  She was very much loved by her patients as she was excellent at her job.  She was known as the nurse who "gave the best shots!"  Many would not allow anyone but Jessie to give them their shot .... so thus began the love for Nurse Jessie from all of her patients.  Jessie became an integral part of the fabric of many families in Craig and the community loved her just like she was family.  She was very loved and well known as a loving, Christian woman who truly cared for all those she saw in the medical environment and as a member of Calvary Baptist Church.  She had many, many friends and she truly loved to entertain them. Jessie left Colorado in 2008 and returned back home to Louisiana where she was currently living. She was a member of Loranger Baptist Church.  She shared many adventures, travels and social activities with friends and family and loved to bowl and dance. She was truly the joy of the gathering!

Jessie was blessed with 2 children, 5 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. Her son, Mark Gorham (66) of Loranger, Louisiana  is married to Becky Riffel Gorham and they have 3 children: Brandon Gorham of Loranger, Louisiana, Chrystal Olson of Vernal, Utah and Trey Gorham of Craig, Colorado.  Her daughter, Leah Fishencord Fleischmann (61) is married to Marc Fleischmann and they have 2 children: Marlo Sherman of San Clemente, CA and Marco Rodriguez Fleischmann of Alta Loma, CA. Jessie's great grandchildren are:  Kiah Vasquez, Hannah Vasquez and Mikah Vasquez - daughters of Chrystal Olson and Sam Vasquez; Aden and Hattie Olson - son and daughter of Chrystal and Ryan Olson; Landon Gorham - son of Brandon Gorham; daughters Ryann and Evyn and son Wesley Gorham - children of Trey and Kelly Zeringue Gorham.  Jessie was extremely close to her family and shared her love generously with each and every one. There will no doubt be a huge hole in all of our hearts with her gone from our presence!

Jessie is preceded in death by her beloved husband and love of her life, Harvey Joe Gorham, who passed away in 1996.  Her parents: Jesse Columbus Gaines and Lofie Idell Wiggins Gaines, bothers, Joel Dawson Gaines, James Henry Gaines and sisters, baby girl Gaines, Bessie Edna Allen, Glennie Ozell Allen, Myrtle Zeola Stevenson, Olivia Christine Allen, Mary Ellen Powell, Geraldine Belgard, Betty Sue Gaines and Son-in-law, Stuart Alan Fishencord.

Graveside services are to be held at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Ball, Louisiana on Friday, February 12, 2021 at 1;00 pm.  Dinner/reception following service. A Tax deductible Donation in Lieu of Flowers can be made to Heart of Hospice @ heartofhospicefoundation.net .