Wayne Gordon Jessop

Wayne Gordon Jessop, age 80, passed away peacefully on Sunday morning, June 11, 2023 at his home in Linden, Arizona, surrounded by family.

Wayne was born August 12, 1942 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.  When he was 17 years old, he joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  After moving to North Hollywood, California with his parents, his strong desire to serve the Lord led him to serve a mission in the French East Mission.  It was there that he met Sheila Collet, a fellow missionary.  Once they had completed their missions, they were married on December 18, 1964 in the Logan, Utah Temple.

They began their married life in Van Nuys, California.  There, they attended the Sherman Oaks Ward, and have made lifelong friends.  After their daughter Danielle was born, Wayne took the brave leap to start his own business.  He started Jessop Precision Products, manufacturing hydraulic fittings.  After David and then Jeffrey was born, they were able to purchase their home in Simi Valley, California in 1972.  There, they completed their family when their second daughter Karalee was born.

Living in Simi Valley, Wayne continued to serve the Lord in their ward, the Santa Susana 2nd Ward.  He served as a Home Teacher, in scouting, in Elder’s Quorum, in Bishoprics and as a Bishop.  He truly loved those he served, and selflessly served those he loved.  He was always dropping what he was doing to help someone in need.  Fixing electrical issues, plumbing, cars, you name it!  He could fix it.  He could also be found at youth conferences and scouting campouts.  He loved the youth!  He lived and served in the Simi Valley Stake until he moved to Linden, AZ in 2021.

His service wasn’t limited to members of the church.  He moved his business to Simi Valley, and helped neighboring business owners with problems with their machinery.  Solving their issues led to him to expand his business in a different direction, and built a new business literally from the ground up, by creating a process and building machinery to manufacture the product.  In 1996, Jessop Precision Products incorporated, and now manufactures and sells medical labels worldwide. Not only did the company grow, but his family grew, as those who work for him become his family!

As his body succumbed to Alzheimer’s, it was devastating.  It was heartbreaking to watch a brilliant man’s speech, health and ability decline.  We were blessed that although he couldn’t verbally communicate at the end of his life, he still had a way to let everyone know that he still knew who they were, that he loved them, and even continued his fun teasing, and sense of humor.  And for as long as he could move, he continued to serve in any way he could. 

We are comforted to know that he is now in the loving arms of his Savior.  We can only imagine he has taken off running to serve again now that he is free of Alzheimer’s constraints, but with a glimmer in his eye, and a silly grin that says his sense of humor also lives on.

Wayne is dearly missed by his wife Sheila, his children Danielle (Jim) Earl, David (Lisa) Jessop, Jeff (Mardee) Jessop, Karalee (Allen) Newberry, his 19 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren, his sister Barbara Bates, and extended family and friends too numerous to count, as he was greatly loved by all who knew him.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 16, preceded by a viewing at 9:00 a.m., at the Show Low Stake Center, 1401 W Deuce of Clubs, Show Low, AZ.  Burial, after a brief graveside service, will take place at Show Low Cemetery following the funeral.

To watch the funeral online please tune in to:  https://zoom.us/j/92203566164