Jesse Hayter McElroy

Jesse Hayter McElroy of Gilbert, Arizona, passed away peacefully in his home on July 30, 2025, at the age of 96. Known to family and friends as “Jess,” he was born at home on his Family Farm on November 10, 1928, in his hometown of Coolidge, (Limestone County), Texas.

Jess is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Frances (Francie) McElroy, his two children from a previous marriage, Kathryn Lee McElroy Mier (Don) and Tracy Hayter McElroy (Dhonna), three grandchildren, Taylor McElroy (Amalia), Annie McElroy, and Benjamin Mier (Melissa), and one great grandchild, Logan Forest Mier. Jess is survived by his sister-in-law, Julianne Ray, as well as by many loving nieces (Ann Adams Noble, Barbara Matthews Wright, Liz Fortier Krieger, and Cindy Matthews Gresham), nephews (Chris Adams, Malcolm Matthews, Michael and Christopher McGough) and their families. Jess was most fond of his two beloved Field Spaniels, Finnegan & Skylar, who remained close by his side.

Jess was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse Edwin McElroy and Agnes Hayter McElroy, his three older sisters, Chrystelle Adams, Helen Matthews, and Zulette Fortier, as well as beloved aunts and uncles. Family was everything to Jess, and he had many wonderful memories growing up in Central Texas.

Following high school, Jess graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, and joined the United States Army in 1951 during the Korean War. After the Army, Jess moved up to the Dallas area, and worked in the telecommunications field as a Financial Analyst and Manager on government contracts. Later in life, following a move to the Phoenix area, Jess continued his career in government contract management, and finished his working life with the East Valley Men’s Center (A New Leaf), Mesa, AZ. Jess loved giving back to his local community and had a heart for working with homeless men that so aligned with his deep Christian faith and values. He was always known for his love of the outdoors, and enjoyed camping, fishing, and hunting for many years, as well as traveling. Jess had his lifetime dream come true by taking his Army Honor Flight to Washington DC in April 2019 at age 90.

Jess’s Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 am, Thursday, August 28, 2025 at St. Anne’s Catholic Parish in Gilbert with Father Keith Kenney officiating. Jess’s Military Interment will immediately follow at the National Cemetery in north Phoenix, Arizona. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Falconer Funeral Home, Gilbert, AZ. In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made to the East Valley Clinical Office of Hospice of the Valley (www.hov.org/donate), or to K9s for Warriors (donate.k9sforwarriors.org).