Jesse Richard Poland died on March 31, 2018 in Hermiston at the age of 85.
He was born on Dec. 28, 1932 in Willow Springs, Mo. to William and Ruth Cooper Poland.
As a child, Jesse traveled extensively with his family until settling in Oregon in the late 1940s. He served in both the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Army and served during the Korean Conflict. He resided in the communities of Milton-Freewater, Pendleton and Umatilla before moving to Hermiston in 2014. He worked at several jobs in Umatilla County before being hired by the postal service in Pendleton. He worked as a postal carrier and later as a clerk at the Pendleton post office for a combined 23 years, retiring in the late 1990s.
Jesse loved playing his guitar for church, in a band or just to entertain his friends. He also enjoyed working on cars and loved his pets.
Jesse married Marilyn “Joanne” Garrett in Pendleton on June 1, 1957.
He is survived by his wife of nearly 61 years, Marilyn “Joanne” Poland; sons, Michael (Pam) Poland and granddaughters, Alex and Andrea, and Eric John Poland; daughter, Leah (Mark) Stollar-Hooker and granddaughters, Jasmine, Jade and Jacinda; great grandson, Sylas; sisters, Elsie Bauman and Katheryn Serta; brother, Eugene Poland; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Gail Meek on March 12, 2018.
No formal services are planned. A private burial will be in Olney Cemetery in Pendleton.
Family suggests memorial donations to the National Federation of the Blind, 200 E. Wells St. at Jernigan Place, Baltimore, Md., 21230.
To leave an online condolence for the family, go to burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
