Wayne Pressley

Wayne C. Pressley, 78, of Jackson passed away Monday, January 2, 2023 at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born August 20, 1944 in Evansville, Indiana, son of Clarence C. and Virginia Roth Pressley. He and Sherry Goin were married August 2, 2000 in Cape Girardeau. Wayne was a 1962 graduate of Leadwood High School in Leadwood, Missouri. Wayne attended Flat River Community College, Washington University, Southeast Missouri State University, earning an Associate, Bachelor, Masters and Specialist Degrees in Education. Wayne began his teaching career at a three room school house in Knob Lick, Missouri. He then served honorably in the United States Navy from 1967 to 1971. Upon completing his Navy service, he taught in New Madrid County at Portageville, Parma, and Conran, worked in administration in Dexter as middle school principle and Assisted Superintendent, served as Superintendent at Nell Holcomb, Chaffee, and taught graduate courses for William Woods University. For ten years, Wayne served MSTA as a lobbyist in Jefferson City. His involvement with MSTA spanned 58 years. His offices included Vice President, President, Southeast Executive Committee, State Executive Committee, BTA instructor, State Resolution Committee, and Bunker Hill Committee. For 45 years, Wayne served as a leader of Lake Forest Ranch Church Camp for kids, and the Men's Bible Study Deer Hunt in Macon, Mississippi. Wayne and Sherry attended First Baptist Church in Jackson. Wayne was a member of Altenthal-Joerns American Legion Post 158 in Jackson, and was actively involved with the American Cancer Society and its Relay for Life. Loving survivors include his wife of 22 years, Sherry Pressley of Jackson, three children; Melissa (Bruce) Scheeter of Cape Girardeau, Jody (Denise) Crow of Wildwood, Missouri and Sarah (Andrew) Thompson of Cape Girardeau; grandchildren, Kristin Thompson, Gabe Spence, Zoey Kelley, Keegan Crow, Rowan Thompson; adopted grandson, Nate Martin; sisters, Susan Briley of Farmington, Missouri and Patty Pressley of Festus, Missouri. He was preceded in death by a brother, David Pressley, and his parents. The visitation will be from 10:00 AM until service time, Thursday, January 5, 2023, at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson. The funeral service will be at 1:00 PM on Thursday, January 5, 2023 at the funeral home, with Rev. Herman Morse officiating. Military honors will be rendered at 11:00 AM, Friday, January 6, 2023, at Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri. The family suggests that contributions be made to Lake Forest Ranch, 5326 Lake Forest Road, Macon, Mississippi 39341.