Jesse James Ernst, 45, of Portland, Oregon passed away at home on Wednesday October 21st, 2020 after a 10 + year battle with Huntington's disease. He was born in Newberg Oregon on April 28th, 1975, to Mark and Debbie Ernst. His early years were spent in Woodburn, Oregon. The family moved to Beaverton in 1985 and Jesse graduated from Beaverton High School in 1993. Growing up, he liked to play basketball and soccer with his friends and brothers. Following high school Jesse lived in Vancouver. He worked in the parts and service department of DSU Peterbilt. Jesse loved heavy metal music and going to concerts with his friends. He enjoyed river rafting and liked to play pick-up basketball. He had lifelong friendships that he cherished. In 2019 Jesse moved into Gracelen Terrace, a long-term care facility that specializes in caring for people with Huntington's. In 2002, his mother Debbie passed away following her battle with Huntington's Disease. Jesse is survived by his father Mark, second mom Denise, brothers Cory, Josh, Jeremy, sister Sara, and their families. We will have a celebration of life on October 24 at 2:00 pm at Simon Cornwell Colonial Chapel in Woodburn Oregon. He will be buried at St. Paul's Catholic Church cemetery alongside his grandparents and uncle. We wish to thank all of the people who lovingly cared for Jesse at Gracelen Terrace and Providence Hospice. If interested, donations can be made to the following:


Huntington's Disease Society of America https://hdsa.org/

Providence Foundation Hospice https://providencefoundations.org/ways-to-give/

Welcome friends and family members and thank you for coming today. We gather together, not to mourn, but to celebrate the life of a brave young man, my son, Jesse Ernst. I lost and we all lost Jesse to a terrible disease, Huntington's Disease. Jesse was born in Newberg, Oregon on April 28 1975 to Mark and Debbye Ernst. He was the second of their two sons. He passed away at 45, in Portland, Oregon at our home on Wednesday, October 21 2020 after a long battle with his disease. He came home that day 45 years ago to an old farmhouse out in the country and he lived there until he was two. Then the family moved to Woodburn. We lived there until 1985. Jesse started grade school in Woodburn and then in 1985 we moved to Beaverton. During this time, Denise (Jesse's second mom) and Jeremy and Josh came into our lives. Jesse graduated from Beaverton High School in 1993. Growing up he liked to play basketball and soccer with the neighborhood kids and his brothers. And he was pretty good at basketball. He was always throwing the no-look passes and I received one in the mouth one day. I wasn't looking either and I have an $8500 tooth as a result.

His first business endeavor was to raise mice to sell to the pet store where his girlfriend worked as food for the snakes. To get rid of what was a very smelly and messy project, we let him bring a kitten home. The kitten stayed for 16 years. Jesse loved to listen to heavy metal music and we all heard it in the household. He liked to go to rock concerts with his friends and that continued until he was no longer able to go. As a young adult he enjoyed river rafting and liked to play pick-up basketball. He had lifelong friendships that he cherished. He's started his career at Tec Equipment in the parts and service department and he worked there for a number of years. He then worked for DSU Peterbilt in Kelso, commuting from his home in Vancouver. At 34, the symptoms of Huntington's took away his ability to work. He battled this disease for 11 plus years. And we all know what he went through. He taught us a lot. He had watched his mother suffer and die from the same deadly disease and he knew what he had to look forward to.

It was never easy. No one should have to go through what he went through. He taught me not be selfish. He reluctantly took my help. Even in the last two years when he was bedridden he still didn't always want my help. And he never wanted to come live with me. He said that he'd rather live on the street. Even though he couldn't speak at the end he still made sounds of disapproval. Jesse never married but had close relationships that remained until his death. Particularly, a long-time friend, Keri came from Washington to be at his side during his final days and it was amazing to watch. Jesse was still able to give and receive love and compassion. I am grateful that I didn't have to do this on my own. Denise, the brothers, family friends, Jesse's regular caregivers, and hospice also stepped in to help him pass peacefully and to support all of us in our grief. It was just he and I at the end.

We all have special memories of Jesse. There are so many! One for me is how much he loved his little nephews. Even though he shouldn't have been driving, he went out to the store and bought his little one-year old nephew a ride-on four-wheeler. Didn't matter that they couldn't ride it until they were three! They still have that four-wheeler and both boys sent cards to Jesse with a drawing of them riding it. Of course, now it is getting ready for their almost 2-year-old sister. Jesse was really proud of being able to get that on his own. And they always made him smile when they came to visit, even when the visits were by zoom! Another fond memory is getting to take Jesse to meet the Trailblazers at St. Mary's Home for Boys. He was invited to their practice and got a kick out of watching them. Jesse got to meet Brian Grant, a Blazer who suffers with Parkinson's Disease. They spent time talking and really connected. Jesse was a big fan and loved to go to games when his uncle Bruce gave us tickets. On another note, I would often help feed him during the last few years. As I was feeding him, I would always talk to him and carry on a conversation even though he couldn't really respond. I knew he heard me. And would smile or frown, or make sounds of approval or disapproval and the one that will always stick with me is that I would say," You know I'm taking care of you, Jesse because you would you would do the same for me, if I was in your situation". He didn't always acknowledge that that would happen. I always laughed about that. He would hesitate and just kind of grumble. But always take the food!

Jesse had no huge life achievements or awards. He was an ordinary kid. But with extraordinary strength and courage to battle his disease. Now his lifetime achievement was to show how to live and die with dignity in spite of the suffering. And to teach everyone around him compassion. This is the hardest thing, to say your final goodbyes. To you, Jesse. I love you forever. And your family and friends do too. We are thankful you are at peace and that your suffering is over. We hope to meet you again one day. Goodbye to you Jesse and rest in peace. You deserve to be at peace along with your mother.