"Chuy/Jesse" Sierra

On December 24, 2023, Jesus “Chuy/Jesse” Salinas Sierra passed away in Bryan, TX at the age of 82. He was born on July 18, 1941 in Agualeguas, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. When he was 17 years old, he came to the United States and was very proud to become a Naturalized Citizen on April 18, 1960. He met his wife, Rosa Chavez in 1961 in Michigan while she and her family were employed as travelling field workers. They were married on December 16, 1961, in the St. Helen Catholic Church of Frederick, OK. They began building their life together in Tipton, OK, where they lived until 1964. In 1964, they moved to Chicago, IL where he found employment as a machinist and steel worker. 

Longing for a simpler life, they moved back to Oklahoma in 1979 where he found employment in maintenance at Tipton Public Schools until retiring for the first time. He then worked in a similar capacity at the Tipton Church of Christ Children’s Home where he retired for the second and last time. He was well-loved by all that he called friend and whom he worked with and was known to be able to fix anything.  Everyone knew which rental houses Jesse owned in town by the consistent color scheme of green and yellow which he would paint and remodel himself. Jesse lived in Tipton, OK for 38 years.  As a result of a very long, courageous battle with Parkinson’s, many strokes, and related illnesses, Jesse relocated to Bryan in 2017 to be nearer to medical services and family.  

Jesse loved carpentry, working with wood, and antique cars. He was proud of his marble and roadrunner collections. He especially loved living in Tipton, Oklahoma, and spoke often about how much he missed it. He took comfort in knowing that his final resting place would be there. Jesse was a member of both Tipton Church of Christ, in Tipton, OK, and Cavitt Church of Christ in Bryan, TX.

Jesse is survived by his loving wife Rosa Chavez Sierra of 62 years.

He is also survived by his children, Paula (Bernie) Acre of Bryan, TX and 2 grandchildren, Alan (Svetlana) Acre and Matthew (Kristen) Acre, and 3 great-grandchildren Milan Acre, Nolan Acre, and Sierra Acre; Arcadio (Laurie) Sierra of Kathleen, GA and 2 grandchildren, Kimberly (Tommy) Sierra Dean and Allyson Sierra; Rosemary (Perry) Davidson of Hawley, TX with 4 grandchildren, Trevor (Casady) Courtney, Taylor (Chase) Roberts, Kyle (Holly) Davidson, and Aleigh Davidson, & 5 great-grandchildren, Bennet Bear Courtney, Lily Jane Roberts, John Hayden Roberts, Cloe Grace Davidson, and Hadley Mae Davidson; Jesse (Kristi) Sierra of Edmond, OK and 2 grandchildren, Layah Sierra and Aaron Sierra; two sisters, Maria Garza of Eagle Lake, TX and Rosa Luna of the Chicago metro area. He is preceded in death by both his parents Jose Sierra (1954) & Paula Salinas Sierra (1959) and an older brother Fructoso “Toto” Sierra (2023).

Cremation will take place in Bryan, with a future memorial service date to be determined in Tipton, OK with a final resting place in the Tipton Municipal Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations made be made to either the Tipton Church of Christ, 201 N Broadway Ave, Tipton, OK 73570, or Cavitt Church of Christ, 3200 Cavitt Ave, Bryan, TX 77801.