Gary Lee Hess

Gary Lee Hess, 71, passed away, Thursday, April 16, 2026, at his home in Charleston, MO.

Born July 3, 1954, in Cairo, IL, to the late Ivan Merle “Tommy” Hess and Denale Carver Hess, Gary lived in Charleston his entire life and was a 1972 graduate of Charleston High School. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Charleston.   

Gary loved farming and agriculture. From the time he could reach the peddle on a tractor he continued farming. Gary enjoyed sharing his knowledge of the farm and was proud to show young farmers the ways of the farm and the mechanics of fixing equipment. In 1994, he became a rural mail carrier for the East Prairie Post Office and held that position until he retired in 2015. He met many people along his route and loved visiting with them. Gary worked for Jackson Farms and remained there until his health began to decline.

Gary was an avid golfer. He was a purist when it came to his golf clubs, so much that he always used traditional wood woods. He carried his father’s driver, a Bert Dargie, to which he insisted went as far as any modern metal driver on the market…. especially if you “hit it in the screws!”

Despite Gary’s tough, quiet exterior, he was always willing to help-whether it was a close friend or a complete stranger. Many of these acts of kindness did not come to the family’s attention until years later, and some may still be unknown. At his core he had a deeply caring heart.

On January 4, 1975, Gary married Jill Brown, and together they built a beautiful family of three sons, Ivan (Amy) Hess of Rogersville, MO; Lee (Angie) Hess of O’Fallon, MO and Clint (Sarah Holaday) Hess of San Diego, CA; along with his loved grandchildren, Norah Mae Hess, Rowan Thomas Hess and Eli Joseph Hess; and his beloved boxer, Leroy.

Additional survivors include his brother, Rick (Ginny) Hess of Cuba City, WI; his sisters, Robin (Larry) Smith of Charleston, MO and Jennifer (Tim) Moore of Murfreesboro, TN; his brother in law, Richard N. Logan, Jr., of Charleston, MO; his nephews and nieces and their families, Tripp (Laura) Logan, Ryan (Jessica) Logan, Evan Hess, Tradd Hess, Jarryd Smith, Lauren (Blake) DeWitt, Luke (Savannah) Moore, and Lindsay (Jackson) Cauthen. A number of cousins also survive.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandson, Rowan Thomas Hess; his father in law and mother in law, Bill and Frances Watkins Brown; his sister in law, Ginger Brown Logan; his maternal grandparents, Haskell L. Carver and Mayme Estal Holifield Carver and his paternal grandparents, Andrew Cleveland Hess and Lydia Baughman Williams Hess.

Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until the funeral hour at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 2, 2026, at the McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston. The Rev. Gerald Collier and Rev. Milton Harrington will officiate. A eulogy will be given by his nephew, Tripp Logan.

Interment will follow in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery near Charleston under the direction of the McMikle Funeral Home of Charleston.

At Gary's request, the family kindly requests in lieu of flowers, plants and gift items that memorial contributions be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38015.

Online condolences may be shared at www.mcmiklefuneralhome.com.