Jess Mayfield Obituary – Daily Ardmoreite

Jess Densley Mayfield was born in Paris, TX on March, 23rd, 1944 and passed from this world into the arms of his Lord on March 24th, 2022. We were blessed to have him with us for 78 amazing years before complications from internal bleeding took him home.

He spent his formative years laughing, loving and learning the meaning of honest, hard work in Helotes, TX, alongside siblings Kay, Wade, Cathy and Sally. He honed his work ethic from his father, Wilmer Calvin Mayfield, and his generous and philanthropic nature from his mother, Sally Rachel Hutchings Mayfield.

His courageous, adventurous nature drew him to the Airforce where he risked his life in Vietnam. He returned with a rucksack of memories and a greatly expanded view of the world.

Jess’ burgeoning entrepreneurial spirit then led him to Fort Worth, TX where he became a pawnbroker, married his first wife, Cynthia Dixon Reeves, and had his first three children, Rachel Berry, Jennifer Hall and Dixie Mayfield. In 1976, he moved his family to the town that became his home for 46 years – Ardmore, OK.

Jess was a pillar of the community and beyond, owning multiple businesses and becoming President of the Pawnbrokers Association of Oklahoma, where he was instrumental in forming the laws that ensured ethical standards for the industry. His love of service also spurred him to volunteer as a Carter County Deputy Reserve officer for many years and to lead fundraising efforts for the March of Dimes.

Music meant a great deal to Jess. In addition to regularly bringing joy to the residents of Elmbrook nursing home, you could often find him on “Thirstin’ Thursday” nights blowing his harmonica or plucking his handcrafted, washtub base at Budro’s restaurant.

Jess’ innovations were numerous and varied. He not only received a patent for an original, long-neck coupler, he also invented a special misting cooler for A/C units and developed his own “meat and vegetable flavor enhancer”, a.k.a Jess Juice. Many may remember the SuperToughGuy amateur boxing event he produced or Hurdle the Attack Turtle, the official spokesperson and mascot for Big Money and Big 6 Pawnshops.

In 2002, Jess married his other half, Cheryl Mayfield, giving his three girls new siblings with Melissa Smith, Shelby Smith and Daniel Hutchins. The couple worked side by side to build the most loving, and inclusive family, adding richness to everyone’s lives.

Jess was predeceased by his parents, Wilmer and Rachel Mayfield and survived by his wife, Cheryl Mayfield and children, Rachel and Neal Berry of Dallas, TX, Jennifer and Keith Hall of Yukon, OK, Dixie Mayfield and fiancé Greg Bolden of Dallas, TX, Melissa Smith and fiancé Rob Belshe of Oklahoma City, Shelby and Emily Smith of Raleigh, NC, and Daniel and Britni Smith of Sanger, TX. He is also survived by grandchildren Sydnee P. Hall, Catelin Berry, Jackson Berry, Sydnie S. Hall, Zayne Fisher, Ethan Hall, Hayden Hutchins, Hudson Hutchins, “G” Bolden III, Brody Smith, Hazel Hutchins and Austin Smith, as well has his mother-in-law, Deanna Floyd.

A Celebration of life will be held for all friends and family on Thursday, March 31, 2022, at 4:00 PM at Craddock Funeral Home in Ardmore, OK. In lieu of flowers, please make a charitable donation to the March of Dimes and consider blood donation – Jess benefitted greatly based on the generosity of strangers.

Jess Densley Mayfield was born in Paris, TX on March, 23rd, 1944 and passed from this world into the arms of his Lord on March 24th, 2022. We were blessed to have him with us for 78 amazing years before complications from internal bleeding took him home.

He spent his formative years laughing, loving and learning the meaning of honest, hard work in Helotes, TX, alongside siblings Kay, Wade, Cathy and Sally. He honed his work ethic from his father, Wilmer Calvin Mayfield, and his generous and philanthropic nature from his mother, Sally Rachel Hutchings Mayfield.

His courageous, adventurous nature drew him to the Airforce where he risked his life in Vietnam. He returned with a rucksack of memories and a greatly expanded view of the world.

Jess’ burgeoning entrepreneurial spirit then led him to Fort Worth, TX where he became a pawnbroker, married his first wife, Cynthia Dixon Reeves, and had his first three children, Rachel Berry, Jennifer Hall and Dixie Mayfield. In 1976, he moved his family to the town that became his home for 46 years – Ardmore, OK.

Jess was a pillar of the community and beyond, owning multiple businesses and becoming President of the Pawnbrokers Association of Oklahoma, where he was instrumental in forming the laws that ensured ethical standards for the industry. His love of service also spurred him to volunteer as a Carter County Deputy Reserve officer for many years and to lead fundraising efforts for the March of Dimes.

Music meant a great deal to Jess. In addition to regularly bringing joy to the residents of Elmbrook nursing home, you could often find him on “Thirstin’ Thursday” nights blowing his harmonica or plucking his handcrafted, washtub base at Budro’s restaurant.

Jess’ innovations were numerous and varied. He not only received a patent for an original, long-neck coupler, he also invented a special misting cooler for A/C units and developed his own “meat and vegetable flavor enhancer”, a.k.a Jess Juice. Many may remember the SuperToughGuy amateur boxing event he produced or Hurdle the Attack Turtle, the official spokesperson and mascot for Big Money and Big 6 Pawnshops.

In 2002, Jess married his other half, Cheryl Mayfield, giving his three girls new siblings with Melissa Smith, Shelby Smith and Daniel Hutchins. The couple worked side by side to build the most loving, and inclusive family, adding richness to everyone’s lives.

Jess was predeceased by his parents, Wilmer and Rachel Mayfield and survived by his wife, Cheryl Mayfield and children, Rachel and Neal Berry of Dallas, TX, Jennifer and Keith Hall of Yukon, OK, Dixie Mayfield and fiancé Greg Bolden of Dallas, TX, Melissa Smith and fiancé Rob Belshe of Oklahoma City, Shelby and Emily Smith of Raleigh, NC, and Daniel and Britni Smith of Sanger, TX. He is also survived by grandchildren Sydnee P. Hall, Catelin Berry, Jackson Berry, Sydnie S. Hall, Zayne Fisher, Ethan Hall, Hayden Hutchins, Hudson Hutchins, “G” Bolden III, Brody Smith, Hazel Hutchins and Austin Smith, as well has his mother-in-law, Deanna Floyd.

A Celebration of life will be held for all friends and family on Thursday, March 31, 2022, at 4:00 PM at Craddock Funeral Home in Ardmore, OK. In lieu of flowers, please make a charitable donation to the March of Dimes and consider blood donation – Jess benefitted greatly based on the generosity of strangers.