Submitted by: Ron McCandless

Services for Jesse Ray McCandless, 78, of Lockhart but formerly of Alice, TX were held Saturday at 10:00 AM at the Morningside Drive Church of Christ in Alice, Texas under the direction of Holmgreen Funeral Home. He died Tuesday, November 21, 2000 in San Marcos, Texas after a brief illness.

He was born July 27, 1922 in Maxwell, Texas and his early years were spent in Lytton Springs and Lockhart. A former Marine he served during World War II. He retired from Central Power & Light in Alice, Texas.

His first wife, Marie Cornelius, preceeded him in death as did his second wife, Kathryn Wallis. He is survived by six children, Peggy Engel of San Antonio; Dennis McCandless of Ben Bolt, Texas; Ron McCandless of Lockhart, Texas; Sarah Naranjo of Mississippi; Rudy and Jacob Falcon also of Mississippi; ten grandchildren; and 20 great grandchildren.

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I originally sent this out for Memorial Day some time ago. I now have a different reason for sending it as you will see.

As some of you know I had a weekly column in an Austin Newspaper. I know when I have read something that was written from the heart. I offer this to you because in the next room there used to be an old soldier, a Marine. He has no medals, but like a million other men and women, he stepped forward when the need was there. And no one seems to care anymore. But I have enough pride in him for the rest of the world, and I remember...

I remember that he also stepped forward whenever his family needed him. I hope that as you read this you will remember your own fathers too.

This was on another list I am on.. .
JUST A SIMPLE SOLDIER

He was getting old and paunchy and his health was falling fast,
and he sat around the Legion telling stories of the past

Of a war that he had fought in, the deeds that he had done
In his exploits with his buddies, they were heroes, everyone

And tho' sometimes, to his neighbors, his tales became a joke,
all his buddies listened, for they know whereof he spoke

But we'll hear his tales no longer, for ol' Bob has passed away
and the world's a little poorer, for a Soldier's died today

No, he won't be mourned by many, just his children and his wife
For he lived an ordinary, very, quiet sort of life

He held a job and raised a family, quietly going on his way:
and the world won't note his passing, 'tho a Soldier died today

When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state
while thousands note their passing and proclaim that they were great

Papers tell of their life stories, from the time that they were young
but the passing of a soldier, goes unnoticed and unsung

Is the greatest contribution, to the welfare of our land
some jerk who breaks his promise and cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow, who in times of war and strife
goes off to serve his Country and offers up his life?

The politicians stipend and the style in which he lives,
are sometimes disproportionate, to the service that he gives

While the ordinary soldier, who offered up his all
is paid off with a medal and perhaps a pension small

It's so easy to forget them, for it is so long ago
that our Bob's and Jim's and Johnny's went to battle, but we know

It was not the politicians with their compromise and ploys
who won for us the freedom, that our Country now enjoys

Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand
would you really want some copout, with his ever waffling stand?

Or would you want a Soldier, who has sworn to defend
his home, his kin, and Country, and would fight to the end?

He was just a common Soldier and his ranks are growing thin,
but his presence should remind us, we may need his kind again

For when countries are in conflict, then we find the Soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles, that the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor, while he's here to hear the praise,
then at least let's give him homage, at the ending of his days

Perhaps just a simple headline in the paper that might say:
Our Country Is In Mourning, For a Soldier Died Today

Author Unknown

My father, a former Marine that served in the Pacific in WW-II passed away Tuesday evening, November 21, 2000. While I held his hand, Jesse Ray McCandless left the mortal realm to rest. His children were with him and talking to him as he left.