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Jake Fisher
PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. — On Wednesday, March 1, 2023, Thomas Edmond “Jake” Fisher, loving husband, father, grandfather and friend to many passed away at age 80.
Jake, as everyone knew him, leaves behind a massive footprint that will forever be remembered. When he entered a room, his presence was felt by everyone. He never met a stranger, commonly referred to those friends he met as “Pal” and truly had a heart of gold.
Jake was well known as the Director of the University of Missouri’s Delta Research Center, in Portageville, which upon his retirement in 2011, was renamed the Fisher Delta Research, Extension and Education Center. Jake began his career in agriculture in 1961, working his way up the ranks from farm worker to Director in 1989. In 2006, a conventional soybean variety “Jake” was named for him.
Jake had many connections across the State of Missouri and served on many boards over the years. In September 2022, Jake retired from one of his most passionate roles as President of the Pemiscot-Dunklin Electric Cooperative Board of Directors. He also served on the board of M&A Electric Power Cooperative, the transmission co-op that relays high-voltage electricity to Pemiscot-Dunklin and on the board for power generator, Associated Electric Cooperative.
Jake is survived by his beloved family and friends, who will be forever blessed by his compassionate, fearlessly loving soul and unwavering positive outlook on life: Shelly (Clayton) Fisher, his high school sweetheart and deeply cherished wife of 61 years; his only daughter, Stacey (Landon) Kersey, who is the definition of a bona fide “Daddy’s Girl” and who fiercely referred to him as her Hero; his two grandsons, Gunnar (Young) and Kasen (Kersey), who also loved and admired their “Paw” with all their hearts; a devoted and loving sister, Rose Ellen (Reid) of Meridian, Mississippi; and a very special lifelong family member and friend, Joyce (Joe) Elrod, of Portageville.
Preceding Jake in death include his parents, Harvey Mike Fisher and Mattie Lee (Son) Rone of Portageville, Landon C. Fisher of Memphis, Tennessee, Ethel LaFerney of Flint, Michigan and Harvey Watson Fisher of Peculiar, Missouri, a very special family member and friend, William Cleo “Joe” Elrod Jr.
Services will be held on Friday, March 3, 2023, at The Rone Hall, 102 County Road 308, Portageville. Visitation is at 10 a.m. with services at 2 p.m.
DeLisle Funeral Home of Portageville is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials are suggested to the University of Missouri. For gifts to the T.E. Jake Fisher Scholarship Fund, please make checks payable to: University of Missouri and mail to Mizzou Gift Processing, 407 Reynolds Alumni Center, Columbia, MO 65211 or give online at https://tinyurl.com/JakeFisherScholarship. Please note “in memory of Jake Fisher” on all gifts.