Ernest Agee Jetton's Obituary
Ernest Agee Jetton, 59, of Memphis, Tennessee, died Thursday, July 9, 2009. Born in Maury City, Tennessee September 1, 1949 to Charles and Nima Jean Jetton, Ernie graduated as Valedictorian from Crockett County High School in 1967. He later received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Lambuth College in 1971, where he served as a member of the Student Government Association, and as president of Kappa Alpha Order. He went on to complete his Juris Doctor from the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at Memphis State University in 1976. He worked at the Internal Revenue Service from 1971 through 1978, where he was, at the time, the youngest person to hold the position of group manager. After working at the IRS, he went to work with Gerber, Bernstein, Gerber, and Weinstone from 1978 through 1983. In 1983 Ernie went into to private practice with his father-in-law, Erie S. Henrich, where he practiced probate and corporate law for twenty-six years.Ernie was a devoted friend who would not hesitate to help anyone in need. He served on the Board of Trustees for Lambuth University, served on the Christ Methodist Day School Board, was a member of the Christ United Methodist Church Board of Trustees, Secretary for the Alzheimer’s Day Services in Memphis, a member of the Tax Watch Group of Memphis, and was a devoted member of the Seekers Sunday School Class at Christ United Methodist Church. Through his dedication of service, he touched many lives by living according to his Christian faith.In line with his strong values and beliefs, Ernie sought to base his activities around the things that he loved: Faith, Family, and Friends. He attended weekly Men’s Prayer Breakfasts at Christ United Methodist Church, took his wife, Karen, on regular Saturday morning “Breakfast Adventures”, and was a well-known devout fan of the Memphis Tigers, rarely missing a game with his friends.After a fourteen-year battle with heart disease, Ernie turned to the Texas Heart Institute in 2007, where he was the first to receive a particular experimental cardiac stem cell treatment in order to prolong his life. His commitment to this cause has helped in groundbreaking research and scientific advancement.Ernie was a devoted husband and father, and is survived by his wife of 37 years, Karen Henrich Jetton of Memphis, TN, and his children Anna Jetton Stegemann (wife to Jason Stegemann) of Denver, CO, and Mary Jetton Jacobs (wife of Joshua Jacobs) of Collierville, TN. He was grandfather to Joshua, William, and Lillian Jacobs, and brother to Charlotte Lewis, Charles Jetton, and Franklin Agee.Of his legacy, there are three words he constantly taught his daughters, and lived by throughout his life: “Respect, Responsibility, and Reason.” For Ernie, these words meant honoring yourself and others; honesty in everything he did and with everyone he met; and using prudent judgment in every situation. One of his beliefs was, “If it doesn’t change the course of history, then it doesn’t matter,” something he often told his girls in order to comfort and ease their worries.Visitation will be held Monday, July 13, 2009 from 5:30-7:30pm in the Wilson Chapel of Christ United Methodist Church. The funeral service will be held on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at 1:00pm in the sanctuary of Christ United Methodist Church. Memorials may be sent to the Texas Heart Institute at Saint Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, www.texasheart.org (832-355-3792) or to Lambuth University, www.lambuth.edu (731-425-3465).
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