Lamont Jefferson Hess Lamont Jefferson Hess, 89, passed away Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020, at his home in Chambers. He was born April 6, 1931, in Salisbury, N.C., the son of William L. Hess and Willie Lois Cross Hess. A graveside memorial service was held Tuesday, Aug. 11, at the McCarroll Community Cemetery, Chambers. Lamont served his country in the United States Navy from 1951-1954 during the Korean conflict. He was a missionary to the Navajo people for 55 plus years and throughout his time in the community, Lamont served on the Puerco School Board, Apache County Sheriff’s Posse, Puerco Ambulance Service and was a member of the Puerco Valley Volunteer Fire Dept. He also served on the Puerco Valley Fire Board and was the Lion Club president. Lamont pastored at churches throughout the Four Corners area, mainly in Arizona and worked with other churches to take medical supplies to Mexico. After retirement from ADOT he liked to take naps and talk to everybody a lot. Lamont is survived by his sons, Aaron Hess of Phoenix, Jonathan Hess of Bethalto, Ill., and Jesse Hess of Sanders; daughters, Paula Hudson of Winslow, Lydia Simshauser of Everson, Wash., and Esther Thompson of Phoenix; sisters, Doris Spencer of Salisbury, N.C., and Jane Miller of Cary, N.C.; 10 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 62 years, Rebecca Hess; son, Leroy Hess; and granddaughters, Kissa Hudson and Elisha Brown. Burnham Mortuary of St. Johns handled arrangements.
