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J.L. was predeceased by his wife, Hilda Gentry Horton, parents Jesse Lee Horton, Sr. and Augusta Cline Horton; brothers and sisters Dorcas Sechrest, Betty Brown, Carmon Horton and Jimmy Horton. J.L. is survived by his children, Pat Willingham (Bob), Don Horton (Jacquie), Ron Horton (Anne), and grandchildren, Don Horton, Jr. (Dana), Ron Horton, Jr. (Dee), Richard Horton, Troy Horton (Elise); great grandchildren, Katie Horton, Sam Horton, Garret Horton and Gentry Horton; sister, Naomi Holshouser; and numerous nieces and nephews. J.L. was educated in Rowan County Schools and graduated from Mt. Ulla High School. He was drafted into the Army and served in WWII as a Combat Engineer in Patton’s Third Army. There he fought in three campaigns…Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe including the battles through France to the Battle of the Bulge, through Germany to the Black Forest, into Austria where his unit was the first to arrive to liberate the notorious Ebensee Concentration Camp. J.L. was awarded the Bronze Star for gallantry and additional medals as well. After returning from the war he married Hilda Gentry and embarked on a successful business career involving building material stores, home building, real estate development and later farming. J.L. loved his family and supported his children and grandchildren in all their endeavors. He lived life with a passion and enjoyed working, traveling with his wife, hunting and fishing with his sons, grandsons, family and friends, and showing his Tennessee Walking Horses. J.L. was a Master Mason and a member of Scotch Ireland Lodge 154 A.F. & A.M., a Scottish Rite Mason and a Shriner, and was a loyal and faithful member of Amity Lutheran Church where he grew up. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 PM on Wednesday, June 8 at Amity Lutheran Church with Rev. Gene Bruce and Rev. Larry Bost officiating. Burial will follow the service at the church cemetery. The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 6:00-8:00 PM at Cavin-Cook Funeral Home. The family would like to thank Hospice of Iredell for their help as well as his caregivers Debbie Waller, Lisa Hartsell, Patty Russell, and Catlin Call. The family would also like to give a special thanks to Dr. Robert Bertram and staff of Salisbury and Dr. Vincent Castillo and staff at the VA Clinic in Charlotte. Memorials may be made to Hospice & Palliative Care of Iredell County, 2347 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625 or Amity Lutheran Church, 1367 Ostwalt Amity Rd, Cleveland, NC 27013. Cavin-Cook Funeral Home, Mooresville, is serving the Horton family. Condolences may be made to the family at www.cavin-cook.com.

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Jesse Lee Horton

January 25, 1924 - June 4, 2016