Jesse W. Hankey, 76, of State Road in Great Barrington, died on January 25, 2025. A native and lifelong resident of Great Barrington, he was born April 18, 1948, the son of Jesse and Helen (Keefner) Hankey. He attended local schools and was a graduate of the former Searles High School in Great Barrington.
A veteran of Vietnam, Jesse enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on September 27, 1966, and quickly rose to the rank of Corporal. He spent approximately 13 months as a machine gun operator called a “first gunner,” before being honorably discharged on September 26, 1968.
After his tour of duty, Jesse studied to be an electrician. He did that work for a bit before moving on to Lee Lime, where he spent the next 24 years. During that time, he and his family owned The Village Restaurant in Chatham, N.Y.
Jesse loved to golf, fish, and hunt. He loved motorcycles and later got a stock car that he raced at the Lebanon Valley Dragway. He also loved bowling and spent two nights a week at Cove Bowling.
Jesse is survived by his wife of 34 years, Eleanor (Cronk); his sons, Thomas and wife Sheila (Latura) and Michael and wife Brittany (Simms); his grandson Tommy Jr. (T2); his granddaughter Hailey; his siblings, Larry and wife Linda (Betros) and Juanita and husband Kevin O’Rourke; his niece Shana O’Rourke Deveaux and husband Alex; his nephews, Blaine, Keane, and Lucian Decker; and his sister-in-law Theresa (Cronk) Decker and husband John.
He was predeceased by his father Jesse and mother Helen (Keefner); his brother Gary; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins in the Hankey, Keefner, Race, Hamling, and Davis families.
The family of Jesse W. Hankey will receive friends on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m., and on Thursday, February 6, 2025, from 9 to 11 a.m., followed by the funeral service at Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home, 426 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230. Burial with Military Honors will follow at Elmwood Cemetery in Great Barrington. Donations in memory of Jesse may be made to the Murphy-Leary American Legion Post #298 in Housatonic. To send remembrances to his family, please visit the website of Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home.
