Jesse J. Priest, Jr., 84, of Midland, passed away Saturday, May 10, 2014 at home. The family will receive friends from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at the funeral home. Memorial services will be held at 1:00 pm, Wednesday, May 14, 2014 at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Chapel in Midland with Mark Dettman as celebrant. Memorial services will also be held at 3:00 pm, Saturday, May 17, 2014 at Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home in Burnet, TX. Inurnment will follow at Post Mountain Cemetery in Burnet, TX.Jesse was born September 18, 1929 to Bruxie and Jesse Priest, Sr. in Briggs, TX. He attended and graduated from Bertram High School. He served in the United States Navy from January 1947 to December 1948. After serving in the Navy, Jesse started a career in professional baseball in Sweetwater, TX in 1949. He went to the Albuquerque Dukes in 1951 where he set the still standing record of 17 straight wins and where he and Barbara were married at home plate in Tingley Field in July of 1952. He later played for Shreveport, LA, Augusta, GA, Temple, TX in 1953 and ending up in Midland playing for the Indians in 1955. Moving to Lubbock, Jesse began his career with the Texas Department of Public Safety, serving in Canyon, Haskell, and Graham. After joining the Texas Rangers Company “C” in 1969 he moved the family to Wichita Falls. He received the Kiwanis Club “Officer of the Year” in 1975. He was promoted to Texas Ranger Sergeant and moved to Midland in May of 1975. He served as Texas Ranger Company “E” Sergeant until retirement in 1979. After retirement, he worked as a ranch foreman in Ranger, TX; as Corporate Security for Clayton W. Williams; an Investigator for the Midland County Attorney’s office, then with the U.S. Marshal’s Service as court security. He was inducted into the Albuquerque Baseball Hall of Fame in July of 2009.He is preceded in death by his parents, Jesse Sr. and Bruxie Priest, sisters, Leota, Lela, Romel, Janette, and brothers, Linton, Lathel, Joel, Noel, and Ray.He is survived by his wife, Barbara; daughter, Niki Speicher and her sons Jesse Speicher and Nick Griffin with his wife Rene and son Gabriel; son, Rick Priest with his wife Tana and daughter Lauren; and many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews.,
