Jessie F. Exendine, 90, of Mexico, passed away Thursday, November 30, 2023, at the King’s Daughters Home in Mexico. Funeral services were held Sun., December 3, at Pickering Funeral Home with Pastor Glenn Forman officiating. Burial followed in Elmwood Cemetery. Visitation was held Sat., Dec. 2 at the funeral home.
Jessie was the first child born of Mabel Riddle and Earl Hinten. She was named Jessie for her paternal grandmother, Jessie Deardorff Hinten. Jessie was born west of Mexico at home in the Possum Walk area off Highway FF just outside of Mexico. Two brothers, Robert Richard and Clifford Wayne, would later join the family.
Jessie attended country schools including Sims School at Thompson when her father was running the service station grocery store there. While living in Thompson, the family attended Hopewell Baptist Church. After her family moved into Mexico, Jessie attended Central School and graduated from Mexico High School in 1952. Jessie and her family joined First Christian Church.
During high school, Jessie worked at the Ben Holt restaurant as a waitress which was housed in the Alamo Hotel on South Jefferson Street. The Alamo Hotel was located near the Hoxey Hotel along the passenger train/railroad tracks. In addition, she also worked at the Toastwich Café before school every morning as a prep cook preparing everything for the owner who would come in later to cook breakfast. How amazing that a teenager was responsible enough to get up, go in before school and get the Café ready for patrons alone and unsupervised. Incredible. That Toastwich Café building still stands on Jackson Street and was last a Barber Shop.
After high school, Jessie was employed by the National/Brown/Florsheim Shoe Factory where she ended up meeting her future husband, Robert Eugene Exendine, known to friends and family as Gene. During breaks at the Shoe Factory, Gene would throw paper wads at Jessie (obviously flirting) and eventually asked her out. While courting, Gene and Jessie would ride on Gene’s 1952 Harley Davidson Hydra-Glide. What a cool couple!
Gene and Jessie married in 1955 and honeymooned in Florida. Gene left the Shoe Factory to work at Mexico/Kaiser/National Refractories where he worked until retirement.
Gene with the help of his parents, built a house west of Mexico that would be their family home where they raised five children, including two sets of twins; Sharon Lynn, Karen Ann, Robert Eugene, Ricky Lee and Rhonda Sue. Sharon and Karen were only three and a half years old when Robert was born. Ricky and Rhonda were born when Sharon and Karen were nine and a half. When Sharon and Karen were born, Gene and Jessie had no idea they were having twins – it was a surprise the day of birth. Rob kids about always being the favorite child, as he’s the only child not a twin, and he was, until Ricky came along. Jessie was a stay-at-home mom for a number of years (it would have been nearly impossible to afford care for twins at that time). She later worked at the school cafeteria.
While the children were growing up, Jessie and Gene spent their summer vacations camping across the United States visiting 48 states and Canada with a day trip into Mexico. After retirement, Gene and Jessie took two trips to Hawaii. Both Gene and Jessie made it to every single state with the exception of Alaska. Jessie and Gene built a cabin on the water at the Lake of the Ozarks where they enjoyed their boat.
Jessie had a garden every year and the gardens were large when all the children were still at home. Jessie would can and can some more and not only vegetables but lots of pickles and grape jelly. Jessie enjoyed her flower beds filled with hostas, impatiens, roses, and white peonies around the house. The flower boxes on Jessie’s patio contained blooming cactus that Gene had dug from road ditches in western states while on their travels. One summer, Jessie painted her entire house herself.
Survivors include two sons, Rob (Leslie) Exendine, of Lincoln, and Ricky (Julie) Exendine, of Centralia; three daughters, Sharon (Bruce) Swon, of Mexico, Karen (Greg) Haase, of Auxvasse, and Rhonda (Sam) Robinett, of Auxvasse; seven grandchildren, Austin Swon, Casey Lawrence, Kadey Sartain, Morgan Edmondson, Logan Robinett, Kaleigh Exendine, and Gabriela Exendine; and nine great-grandchildren, Benjamin Lawrence, Annabelle Lawrence, Dale Sartain, Devin Sartain, Thomas Jackson, Leo Jackson, Will Swon, Ella Swon, and Ava Grace Edmondson.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and two brothers, Robert Hinten and Cliff Hinten.
Memorials may be given to the charity of your choice. They may be sent in care of Pickering Funeral Home, 403 N. Western, Mexico, MO 65265.
Expressions of sympathy may be given at pickeringhf.com
