Esley Sisson, Jr.
age 77, of Griggsville, Ill. and formerly of Oakland City, Indiana died 11:30 a.m. Tuesday (December 9, 2003) at the Pittsfield Manor in Pittsfield, Ill. He was born October 13, 1926 in Coe, Indiana son of the late Esley Turner Sisson, Sr. and Lillian Aldag Sisson. He married Ann Hawes on July 7, 1956 in Petersburg, Indiana and she survives. Also surviving are two daughters, Mary Glandon of Auburn, Ill. and Cynthia Livingston of Griggsville, Ill.; a son, David Sisson of Houston, Texas; six grandchildren; and one brother, Alvin Sisson of Oakland City, Indiana. He was preceded in death by his parents. Mr. Sisson was a graduate of Oakland City High School in Oakland City, Indiana and attended Lockyears Business School in Evansville, Indiana. He graduated Oakland City College with a Bachelors of Science and a Bachelors of Art degree and taught in the Perry School District in Perry, Ill. for 28 years. After retirement, he drove a school bus for Roberts Bus Lines for three years. He was a veteran of W.W. II serving in Seoul, Korea…(he told us that being able to type fast kept him alive in Korea) and a member of the Retired Teacher’s Association and the Pike County Research Forum.
What does a teacher amount to?
Like Mr. Sisson used to tell us, I’ll only say this once, so you’d better listen up. Esley Sisson made an impact on the lives of his students. He taught us that hard work, combined with wit, could produce learning.
He once complimented me on being the fastest typist in my class. He rewarded this great speed by giving me the only typewriter with blank keys. He said this would help class morale and teach me humility. I think it did help the class morale.
Three days ago I took a group of my eighth-grade students to five nursing homes in Pike County, all dressed as clowns. We usually do our clowning in the Jacksonville area but every few years we come to Pike County. One of the reasons is that it was my only chance to see Esley. This year I was a week late. The last time I saw him he was in the Barry facility. He motioned me down to his room where I was commanded to take a tour of his family’s pictures. He was very proud of his kids and grandkids. Then he grabbed my arm from his wheelchair and he showed me off to the nurses and the residents. He kept making waving motions with his hands. He wanted them to know that he taught me to type and that he personally was responsible for my writing career.
It’s been an interesting week talking to his friends and former students. Got one email from as far away as Australia.
Could all be summed up by Kenny Stauffer’s comment when someone asked him how he was doing in history class at Illinois College. He said, “I don’t even have to study. I had Esley Sisson for a teacher.” Of course, there was always some question as to whether Kenny would have studied anyway, but since he’s followed in Esley’s footsteps and become an uncompromising teacher himself, I’d say that Mr. Sisson did have an influence.
Mike Orr describes him as a business teacher who meant business. In Mike’s words, “Under that facade of mean, glowering, "I don't like you" looks was, I believe, a keen and dry sense of humor.. he was a good man who made a good contribution in a good place. And…Oh yes; he was a very good teacher!”
My brother Keith described his as a cat. “You never heard him sneak up on you until you felt his hand on your shoulder.”
Told me class once: “Let’s pretend that you all came here to get an education. Bradbury, in your case, you’ll have to pretend very hard.”
According his colleague Gwen Woods: Esley was always a gentleman. A dedicated teacher. Proud of his grandkids. When a grandson appeared on the Scholastic Bowl challenge, he pointed to his chest, meaning, “He’s mine!”
And for a season he was Perry’s basketball coach. According to the research firm of Elmer & Elmer: 1954 and 55. Rich Emerson, Gene Vose, Charles Meado, Allan Beard & Don Elledge.
Rich Emerson: Coach. Never heard him swear. Tight game with Virginia…score was close. Esley called timeout and the boys hurried over to the huddle and they looked eagerly to their coach for the last second strategy. He looked at them and said, “Well Let’s go, boys. Let’s go.”
A former player of his this week told me that whenever he was about to make them run laps, all they had to do was ask him about Indiana or one of his kids and he’d take up the rest of the practice time with stories. Another former player: I never had a coach that had as good a time coaching.
Another story of that close game with Virginia. Virginia coach asked him who his best player was and Esley said, “Gene Vose.” Then before the game he said, “Glen, take the first two or three shots of the game and try to make at least one of them.” After Glen did, Esley told the boys to pass the ball to Charlie Meado and Meado had one of the highest-scoring games of his life. We beat Virginia.
His wit could cut the legs out from underneath you. Told Fred Witham once: “Boy Fred, that game last night was the worst I’d ever seen you coach.” “I didn’t know you were there, Esley!” “I wasn’t. I was just guessing.”
I’ve now been a teacher for 3 years longer than Esley and I often ask myself, what does a teacher amount to. I still don’t know. But I know that we are all a product of the people we’ve met and anyone who ever met Esley Sisson came away with a refreshingly unique outlook on life. And those have the greatest impact are those we remember most vividly. Esley was a teacher and he fit that bill perfectly.
Psalm 23: The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Let us pray: Father, thank you for teachers. Thank you for those who tell us what we need to know whether we want to hear it or not. We ask that you comfort Esley’s family in these coming days, knowing that their father, grandfather, husband, and brother has indeed made a lasting contribution to your world. And we pray this all in the name of your precious son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his[ HYPERLINK "http://bible.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/" \l "footnote_186414844_2" 2] faith. 7If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. 9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Let us pray: Father, as we lay Esley to rest, we ask peace for the family. We ask that this day may be filled with wonderful memories of good, good man. We thank you for his life and for the good work he was able to do while he was among us. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.
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