Henley, Jess

Jess Henley

January 5, 1928 – February 26, 2021

Master Sergeant Jesse “Jess” Huel Henley Jr., 93, of Abilene, passed away Friday, February 26, 2021, at Hendrick South in Abilene.

Jess was born January 5, 1928, in Hermleigh, Texas, to Jesse H. and Florence (Adams) Henley.  Jess graduated from Hermleigh High School in 1945.   He married Ida Frances “Fran” Arnett in Big Spring on January 22, 1949.  They were married 71 years until her death July 6, 2020.  They moved to Clyde from Riverside, California, in 1973, and then to Abilene.  On January 18, 1946, he entered the Army Air Corps beginning a career that would span 27 years until his retirement from the U.S. Air Force.  During Jess’s military career, 16 years were spent as a flight engineer on several different models of the C-130 Transport.   At the time of his retirement, he had accumulated over 7,000 hours flying time, 6,000 of that on the C-130 Transport.  Among the medals and ribbons he was presented, he received he Air Force Commendation Metal, Expeditionary Forces Medal with 3 bronze stars and the U.S. Marine Corp Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon for service at Khe Sanh Viet Nam in 1968 of which he was authorized to wear and wore it proudly.  Jess served in Viet Nam, Japan, the Philippine Islands and his last overseas’ assignment was with Air Sea Rescue in the Azores Islands.

Jess is survived by son Robert (Bob) Alton Henley of Eula and daughter Vickie Fain and husband Robert of Abilene; sister Venita Joy Courtney of Midland; four grandchildren, Holli Morgan of Abilene, Jason Fain and wife Kristin of Abilene, Mitchell Henley and wife Jamie of Abilene and Kacee Robinson and husband Richard of Clyde; six great grandchildren, Taylor, Emily, Travis, Jaxson, Dylan and Daylen; and numerous other relatives and friends.