Jesse Howard Harrelson

Jesse Howard (Bud) Harrelson III, age 71, passed away on December 27, 2015, after a brief illness. He was a resident of Richmond, Texas, near Houston.

Bud is survived by his life-partner Karen Odell Hinton, her son Todd Hinton, and the family dogs Jasmine and Sophie. He is also survived by his stepmother Betty Harrelson, his sister Barbara Harrelson, brother J. Michael Harrelson, half-sister Jessica Lincoln, and three stepsisters and one stepbrother. He is also survived by his uncle Bob Gabbert and his aunt Mary Baty.

He was predeceased by his mother Jodie Gabbert Beckett and his stepfather Robert L. Beckett, and by his father Jesse H. Harrelson, Jr. and his stepmother Emma Sue Harrelson, along with a half-brother, Roy Lee Harrelson, and a half-sister, Sheila Worley.

Born in Abilene, Texas on September 9, 1944, Bud grew up in Deming. He attended Deming High School where he played brass instruments in the DHS band.

He joined the U.S. Navy in 1962, and became a flight radio operator, stationed at the Naval Air Station at Brunswick, Maine. He was also posted to the Naval Station at Rota, Spain, that supports U.S. and NATO ships, along with U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force aircraft.

His early love of cars, and tinkering with engines and other machines, grew to include aircraft and aviation, through his Navy experiences.

After leaving the Navy, he briefly studied at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, and began working for Trans World Airlines, starting as a baggage handler. He was transferred to Boston where he continued his rise through the ranks of TWA, achieving an executive management position. During this time, he completed management courses at the Harvard Business School.

Bud’s career then turned to machining where he displayed rare talents for using machine tools, and particular machine models, to make precision machine products. After some 20 years with the W.L. Doffing Company, a Houston-based machine shop, Bud retired at the end of 2013.

A man of few words, Bud is remembered for his kind heart, brilliant mind, and passions for music, movies, football, reading, and D-Pack chile con carne. We will miss you, Bud.

Bud was an organ donor and requested no final services; cremation has occurred.