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Jess was born in Bakersfield, CA on February 24, 1943 a son of Jesse Lee Franklin II and Ruth Ann (Willott) Nickerson. He married Teresa Jane Faulkner on September 4, 1982 in Paris. Jess graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches and law degree from the South Texas College of Law in Houston. Throughout his life he served his country in the Air Force as an air traffic controller in Vietnam, practiced as an attorney in Paris and served as a County Judge in Camp County. Jess was an avid PJC basketball supporter, loved woodworking and enjoyed his horses on his ranch. He was also a member of First United Methodist Church in Pittsburg.
He is preceded in death by his parents and a brother.
Jess is survived by his wife Teresa Nickerson; children Jennifer Whitley and husband Charles Whitley of Broken Arrow, OK, Jessica Nickerson of Dallas; grandchildren Priya, Adin and Gavin Whitley; three brothers William, John and Jim Nickerson and numerous nieces and nephews.
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Marty D. Thurman #214
Sad to hear of the passing of Brother Jesse Nickerson . What a great person he was and a Founding Member of our Texas Eta Chapter with Bond # 7 [ How lucky can you get ! ] . I was a 19 year old student when I met Jesse . He was back in college as an Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War . At 26 he should have seemed very old , but he was just one of the guys and very glad to be back at SFASU . Jesse had a great personality and was fun loving and enjoyed every party and social event . After he graduated from SFASU , I did not see him for many years until he came to a PDT Reunion in Nacogdoches . He had a great adult life as an attorney in northeast Texas . I have a lot of good memories of him and he will be missed by many .
John Rick Still #149
Jesse Nickerson was truly one of a kind. I met him when he returned to SFA from the military in the late 60's. The last SFA function I remember with him was when we drove his 1967 Mustang to Kansas City for the LumberJack's national basketball tournament. The Jack's were rated #1 in the country, so we drove up and got there just in time to see them lose the semi final game. Never have I driven so far to stay such a short time. We literally drove back the next morning. But I did see my very first .25 coke machine up there. They were only .15 cents in my dad's grocery store. A few months later we graduated and moved to Houston. He was in law school, but he seemed to party much more than he studied. In fact, he married the girl next door (literally)!! The last time I saw him was at one of our reunions a couple of years ago. He was a wonderful guy that will be greatly missed.
Rick Still (#149)
John R. Morrison #33
Jessie was my pledge brother when we were Foresters. We were in Viet Nam at the same time but in different services, Jessie in the Air Force and me in the Marines. I was based south of Danang at one time and received a phone call from him. Not sure how he got through as there were no cell phones then and all our lines were land lines, not like have now, but comm wire strung out for miles. It was great to talk to him! We used to see each other at South Texas College of Law. But then I moved to Scotland and we lost touch. He was a good friend and Brother. May you rest in peace Brother Nickerson, Yours in the Bond, Johnny #33.