Jessie Bivens

Jessie L. Bivens, 81, of Redkey, Indiana, passed away peacefully Monday, May 6, 2019, while in the company of family members at St. Vincent Hospital of Indianapolis.

Jessie was born in Garrison, Kentucky, on Oct. 31, 1937, a son of the late Marie (Webb) and Alex Asbury Bivens. He was the husband of Bertha M. Bivens, who he happily married on Nov. 23, 1970, and sadly lost on Aug. 21, 2017.

He worked in glass manufacturing for years doing many different things before retiring from the utility department at Kerr Glass in 1992. 

Jessie was a member of Redkey Church of the Nazarene and enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, woodworking, ceramics, gardening, canning, spending time outside mowing, riding motorcycles, caring for his beehives and making honey, cutting down trees, trips to Garrison, Kentucky, watching boxing, Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, listening to gospel music, drinking a good cup of coffee and spending time with his precious pup Thomas.

He is survived by a son, Jesse Alan Bivens (wife: Ann); five daughters, Deborah S. Echevarria (husband: Wilson), Peggy Grayson (husband: Ray), Lois Reynolds (husband: Larry), Brenda Besser and Linda Gannon; one sister, Jewel Freeman; 20 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Jessie was preceded in death by his parents; first wife Patsy Ann (Caskey) Bivens; second wife Bertha M. (Hodgson) Bivens; an infant son, Christopher P. Bivens; two sisters, Garnet and Ma Lee Bivens; and two brothers, Charles and Floyd Bivens.

Friends are invited to call Friday, May 10, 2019, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at MJS Mortuaries – Redkey Chapel. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. with Pastor Roger Walby officiating. Burial will be held in Hillcrest Cemetery Redkey, Indiana.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Lions Club for visual and hearing aid assistance programs.

Arrangements have been entrusted to MJS Mortuaries – Redkey Chapel.