Tessa Sallee

SALLEE, TESSA LEE-Tessa Lee Sallee, age 96, passed from this life on Saturday, January 24, 2015, surrounded by her loving family. Services will be conducted by Kerry Holton (former minister,) and will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Wednesday, January 28, 2015, at the Country Club Road Church of Christ.
Born in the town of Hazard, Kentucky, on July 7, 1918, to James Napier and Mary Combs Napier, she was a preemie at birth, which started her legacy of being a survivor and the strong fortitude and example she exemplified her entire life.
She spent her formative years growing up on North Fork of the Kentucky River, outside of Hazard, Kentucky in the Appalachian Mountains. Her early childhood here, growing up with a large family was filled with memories both joyous and tragic. She told stories of the river rising during torrential rains, flooding her childhood home, and her family having to live under the shelter of a rock overhang until the river subsided and her parents having to rebuild, only to have to rebuild again later, after a house fire, in which they again, lost everything. But during these times the children learned the skills of perseverance and helping each other and their neighbors, through sheer fortitude.
Soon were the days of the great depression, and again her family remained strong and helped others through sharing produce from their large gardens, and hard work, thriftiness, and her father's small grocery store. He set an example for Tessa, in which he shared and gave to those in need, whether they could pay or not. She always carried this, along with her southern upbringing and genteel hospitality.
Tessa attended primary school under the tutelage, in part, of some of her older siblings. When the time came for her to start high school, her family moved to Maces Creek, which was "up the head of a holler," on family land that was deep in the Appalachian Mountains. Not having a High School back in those hills, Tessa remained in Hazard, living with an Aunt until her graduation from Dudley High School. Upon graduation she attended Lees College, in Jackson, Kentucky. When the war began she moved to Louisville, Kentucky and worked with the Civil Service. She worked at the Louisville Medical Depot, packing supplies that was distributed to soldiers, fighting overseas.
After the war, she took a trip to New Mexico to visit a sister who was married to a serviceman stationed at the Roswell Army Air Field. This sister lived next door to the sister of Tessa's future husband, who had just returned from serving his time in WWII. Walter Sallee played in a dance band, along with a couple of brothers, and a friend or two. The two sister's got together and arranged a party in which the brother's band played. This was where they met. His abilities as a musician and his movie star good looks stole her heart.
After a few months courtship they were married on January 3, 1946. They built a strong and happy home with many years of love, devotion, and caring. Quickly the years passed with wonderful holidays, baseball games, family vacations, church activities, 4-H, work, school, family reunions, etc. Tessa was a Sunday school teacher, 4-H leader, member of ladies bible class, and worked until retirement for RISD. Much too soon Walter became ill and she lost him in May of 1984. She continued her life and stayed busy with church works, her widow friends, and being the strong matriarch, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, her family loved and looked up to. She was a wonderful cook and a nurturing, loving example.
Surviving her are three children, Mary & (Jerry) Salyards, Janice & (Tim) Dunnahoo, and Walter (Buddy) Sallee and his wife Debora. Seven grandchildren, Jennifer (Chad) Cole, Roswell, New Mexico, Jeff and (Kristen) Salyards, Roswell, New Mexico; Trevor Dunnahoo, Lindsay & (LJ) Harrell, Roswell, New Mexico, Tyler Dunnahoo, Austin, Texas; Ryan Sallee, Lubbock, Texas, and Apryl & (Jeremy) Kirkham, Roswell, New Mexico. Great grandchildren are Ashley Franks, Heidi Franks (Jeremy Weeaks;) Rylie Cole, Cason Salyards; Logan Harrell, Lacey Harrell; Taylor Sallee, Sophia Kirkham, and Olivia Kirkham. Three great, great grandchildren are Bella Jobe, Byntli Jobe, and Mavin Weeaks.
Also surviving her are sisters Ruby Evans, Berea, Kentucky, Nola Johnson, Roswell, New Mexico, Rita Bohannon, Louisville, Kentucky, Ernestine Napier, Somerset, Kentucky, and brother James Napier, Ashville, Tennessee.
Predeceasing her are her husband, Walter E. Sallee, her oldest grandson Trevor Dunnahoo, sisters Lena Combs, Verdie Napier, brothers Ishmael Napier, Ward Napier and two sisters lost in infancy Marie Napier and Ola Napier.
Memorial contributions may be made to the New Mexico Children's Home, Portales, New Mexico, or the Roswell Humane Society. Burial will be at South Park Cemetary. Funeral arrangements are under the care of LaGrone Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Ryan Sallee, Jeff Salyards, Tyler Dunnahoo and her grandsons in law LJ Harrell, Chad Cole, and Jeremy Kirkham.
Arrangements are under the personal care of LaGrone Funeral Chapel
Online condolences may be made at www.lagronefuneralchapels.com

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