Jesse Lyndon Fallis Family
By Mary Ellen Fallis, 1984
 

Jesse Lyndon Fallis, born November 24, 1921, was the son of Jesse Ray (December 15, 1901-June 24, 1978) and Marie Bishop Fallis (March 9, 1905-May 8, 1980). Jesse Lyndon was born in Cropper, Kentucky, and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, with his mother when he was about three years old. In 1930 his mother married Teddy L. Fleming, and a half-sister to Jesse, Norma Jean Fleming Cusick, was born on December 7, 1932. Jesse's step-father died on July 4, 1957. He and Marie were buried in Indianapolis. Jesse Ray Fallis was buried at Bagdad, Kentucky. Jesse was graduated from Washington High School, Indianapolis, in 1939, and enlisted in the United States Coast Guard in 1942. Most of his tenure was served in Alaska, and he was honorably discharged in December, 1945.

Jesse had known a neighborhood girl, Mary Ellen Christman, for several years, before they were married on August 9, 1946, in Indianapolis, and moved to Houston, Texas, a month later. Mary Ellen was born on July 7, 1926, the daughter of Louis Francis Christman (July 1, 1900-December 29, 1977) and Margaret Helen Yoakum Christman (October 27, 1897-March 5, 1962). She had one sister, Geraldine Christman McGrath living in Bay City, and one brother, Herbert Franklin Christman (b. March 5, 1921-[February 25, 1991]), living in Houston. Mary Ellen's first love was music. She began piano lessons before she was six years old, organ lessons in high school, and played the string bass in the school orchestra. She was graduated from Arsenal Technical High School, Indianapolis, in 1943. Mary Ellen began playing the organ for the Beville Avenue Evangelical Church at the age of sixteen. Jesse attended the same church, and sang tenor in the church choir. This was the beginning of their active participation in the music of churches for many years.

As a schoolboy, Jesse delivered newspapers, worked as a clerk in drug and grocery stores, cut and laid carpeting, and was working as a butcher when he entered the armed services. When he first arrived in Houston, he was employed by General Electric Company, and later by the International Harvester Company. In 1953 the family moved from Houston to Beaumont, and Jesse worked as assistant manager of the International Harvester dealership. In January of 1955, he and two other men purchased the International Harvester dealership in Bay City, which was known as Bay Equipment Company. He sold his interest in the dealership in 1967, and was employed by Phillips Petroleum Company where he became a senior operator. He was an active Elder in the First Christian Church of Bay City, and was the Scoutmaster there for Scout Troop #1007 for several years. His hobby was working on cars.
 

Mary Ellen worked for Travelers Insurance Company in Indianapolis, and transferred to their Houston office in 1946. Their first child, Vicki Anne, in Houston. In March 1948, Mary Ellen began working for John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company and stayed there until 1953. Their second child, John Lyndon, in Beaumont. Jesse began working in Bay City in February, 1955, and the family moved in August, 1955. Mary Ellen served as organist at the First Christian Church from 1959 to 1977, and substituted at other churches on occasion. She worked as church secretary at St. Peters Lutheran Church of Bay City, from March, 1965, to October, 1973, and from November, 1981, to December, 1983. Between these stints she worked as secretary for Charles Ryan Insurance.

Vicki began school in Beaumont, and entered Bay City schools in the third grade. She was graduated from Bay City High School in 1965, and from Texas Christian University. Vicki married Gregory B. Bradshaw, and their son, Landon Scott, was born in Mission City, British Columbia, Canada. They separated, and she returned to theater work in New York as a stage manager. Vicki returned to Houston in September, 1981, where she was office coordinator for Texas Construction Industry, a subsidiary of Century Development Company.

John was graduated from Bay City High School and attended Texas A & M University for two years before returning to Bay City where he attended Wharton County Junior College. John began working at Matagorda General Hospital in Bay City during his high school years, and became interested in computer work. He was a partner in the Software Management Association in Houston in 1984. John married Carolyn Agnes Fowler of Scranton, Pennsylvania, on June 16, 1984.

Historic Matagorda County, Volume II, Page
 

Jesse Lyndon Fallis

Jesse Lyndon Fallis was born on November 24, 1921 in Cropper, Kentucky, and departed this life on May 13, 2004 in Houston.
 

He is survived by: his wife of almost 58 years, Mary Ellen Chrisman Fallis; his son, John L. Fallis; his daughter, Vicki Fallis Barosh; granddaughter, Jessie Rae Fallis; and two grandsons, Landon Bradshaw and Jackson Fallis.
 

A World War II veteran of the Coast Guard, he and his family moved to Bay City n 1955 and have resided here since.
 

He was active in the Boy Scouts of America, leading Troop No. 1007 for many years; active in the Order of the Arrow, and named Scoutmaster of the Year in 1970.
 

Known for his fine tenor voice, Jess sang in the choir at the First Christian Church, the Coastalaires, and was a soloist many times in the area for special events.
 

Jess was an active member of the First Christian Church.
 

He was employed by Phillips Petroleum in Old Ocean for 19 years and retired in 1985.
 

A memorial service will be held at the First Christian Church, 3920 Doris in Bay City, at 3 p. m. Sunday, May 16, 2004, with the Rev. John Richardson of Raleigh, North Carolina and the Rev. Bruce Bonner of Bay City officiating.
 

The family requests contributions in his honor be given to the organization of your choice or the Memorial Garden Fund at the First Christian Church in Bay City.
 

Bay City Tribune, May 16, 2004
 

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