Weldon E. Chesser

Weldon E. Chesser, age 82, died July 30, 2018, at the Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould, Arkansas.
Chesser was a long time Paragould businessman, farmer, and civic leader.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Patsy A. Chesser, and a brother, Harlan Chesser and his wife, June.
He is also survived by his nephews, Steve Chesser, Joe Max Chesser, Steve Tarry, Craig Tarry, Mike Tarry, Tim Crafton, Max Chesser, Jerry Faulkner, David Chesser, Mike Paris and Dale Paris, and nieces Mary Jean Powers and Jean Ramsey.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charlie and Edna Jane Chesser; brothers, Jack Chesser, Joe Memory Chesser, Waylon Chesser, Monte Chesser and Warren Chesser; and sisters, Alma Jean Paris and Mary Sue Chesser.
Weldon grew up in the Southwestern portion of Greene County, where he attended South Elementary School, and graduated from Greene County Tech in 1954. He moved to St. Louis for a few years where he worked for McDonald Douglas Aircraft, then returned to Paragould. He and Pat were married on September 2, 1961.
In 1962 Weldon purchased the Sealtest Food Distributorship for Northeast Arkansas and Southeast Missouri. In 1966, he opened the first Seven-Eleven Store in Northeast Arkansas.
In 1973 he purchased lands located at the Northwest corner of Highways 49 and 412 from the Marie Hamm estate. His businesses were headquartered on that corner for 41 years before he closed them in 2014.
The purchase of the Hamm estate lands was the start of many real estate acquisitions for Weldon and Pat, including rental properties, development properties, row crop farmland, and a cattle farm. He raised registered Angus cattle. He loved horses and still owned over 20 horses at the time of his death.
Weldon served his community on its City Water Commission, the predecessor to the current Paragould Light Water and Cable board. He also served on the Paragould Housing Authority board for more than 20 years, on the Greene County Fair board for more than 30 years, and for more than 25 years on the Arkansas Methodist Medical Center Advisory Board.

He was a Rotarian, and in 1978-79 served as President of the Paragould-Greene County Chamber of Commerce. He had previously served on the Chamber’s Transportation Committee and was one of the leaders in the movement to have Highway 412 designated as a U.S. Highway.
He supported both the academic and athletic programs at Greene County Tech, and quietly assisted hundreds of Greene County citizens in times of need.
Weldon became interested in politics in the mid 70's and served as one of the Greene County coordinators for each of Governor Bill Clinton’s successful campaigns for Governor. He became a part of Clinton’s “kitchen cabinet” and served on the Governor’s legislative staff. Governor Clinton also appointed Weldon as Chairman of the Arkansas State Transportation Commission.
In 1992, Chesser joined a group known as “Bill Clinton’s Arkansas Travelers” and campaigned as a volunteer in Georgia, Illinois, California, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. He and his friend, Harry Truman Moore, attended the 1992 Democratic National Convention where they were the campaign’s Ambassadors to the Washington State delegation. As a result of the friendships which they made with the Washington State delegates, Clinton asked them to make a two-person “swat-team” trip to Washington State and continue down into the State of Oregon.
In 1996, Weldon returned with the Travelers to the State of Iowa.
Weldon instilled in his nieces and nephews, and hundreds of other young Greene County citizens, the importance of hard work, his love of real estate, and the importance of giving back to the community.
The family will receive visitors Tuesday afternoon, July 31, 2018, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Heath’s Funeral Home.
A celebration of Weldon’s life will be held Wednesday, August 1, 2018, at 10:30 at Brown’s Chapel Baptist Church, where he was a lifetime member. Reverend Royce Boling and Reverend Tony Cherry will preside. Harry Truman Moore will give the Eulogy.
Weldon’s nephews, Steve Chesser, Joe Max Chesser, Steve Tarry, Craig Tarry, Mike Tarry, Tim Crafton and Max Chesser , and great-nephew, Blake Chesser, will serve as pallbearers.
Honorary pallbearers will be Harvey Lee McCord, Charles Willis, Bobby Joe Willie, Ronnie Pigue, Doug Threlkeld, Tim Fitzgerald, Dan Langston, Carroll Childers and Harry Truman Moore.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Albert Fonticiella and the nurses and staff at AMMC for the excellent care that Weldon received during his recent illnesses.
The family requests that the Brown’s Chapel Cemetery Fund be considered for memorials.
Online tributes can be made at heathfuneralhome.com