Ambrose "A J" Deese

Ambrose "AJ" Deese, of Newport, North Carolina, passed away at his home on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, one day shy of his 83^rd birthday.

A funeral service to honor AJ’s life will be held at 3 p.m., Sunday, April 28^th at Cape Carteret Baptist Church, officiated by Rev. Kevin Club. Interment will follow at Gethsemane Memorial Park. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. For those unable to attend, the service can be viewed through his obituary page on Munden Funeral Home’s website. The service will remain on the Funeral Home website for 90 days.

Born on April 25, 1941, in Richmond County, NC to the late William and Virgie Deese, AJ spent his formative years in Montgomery County. He proudly served his country in the United States Navy aboard the famous USS Midway Aircraft Carrier for four years. After his honorable service, AJ dedicated himself to a career as a Corrections Officer with the NC Department of Corrections until his retirement.

AJ was an active member of Cape Carteret Baptist Church and a devoted member of The Berean’s Sunday School Class. He was a strong man of faith who cherished his family and friends.

Casting a line and reeling in a good catch was one of his favorite hobbies. He took great pride in his yard and thoroughly enjoyed all types of yard work, always appreciating the end result. AJ reveled in friendly competitions of corn hole and horseshoe with his friends and valued family time, especially connecting with his grandchildren through various games. AJ was also an avid Miami Dolphins fan and he enjoyed shagging to beach music in his younger years.

Those remaining to cherish his memory are his loving and devoted wife of 43 years, Jeanette Sexton Deese; daughter, Renee Kuczka (Chad) of Stafford; son, Jerry Deese (Karen) of Albemarle; sisters, Fran Parkerson, Hazel Spivey (James), all of Troy, Janice Lewis of Rockingham; brothers, Stan Deese of Hickory and Gerald Deese (Darlene) of Mt. Gilead; grandchildren, Dylan, Aidan, and Sarah Kuczka; and numerous loving nieces and nephews. 

In addition to his parents, AJ was preceded in death by his infant sister, Linda Lou Deese and sister, Ruth Deese-Burrows.

As an expression of sympathy, flowers are welcome or memorial contributions may be made to the National Kidney Foundation, 30 East 33rd Street, New York, NY 10016.

Family and friends are welcome to submit online condolences at www.mundenfuneralhome.net.

Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home & Crematory in Morehead City, NC.