Our sympathies extended to the families of... Jerry Dean Smith
Jerry Dean Smith departed this life at the age of 73 years just as he would have chosen to go, on a fishing trip. Along with his good friend, Clayton Smith, Jerry passed away on Monday, April 25, 2022, in a boating accident at Keystone Lake in Cleveland, Oklahoma.
Jerry was the son of Ralph Percy Smith and Bessie (McKenzie) Smith, born on February 16, 1949, in Lamar, Oklahoma, where he was brought up and attended schools. He graduated Moss High School with the Class of 1967 and immediately joined the U.S. Army, serving in Vietnam and in Germany.
He married Norma Lee Pentico in Tulsa on November 17, 1972, and became Dad to her two children, Albert and Deanna. They made their home in the Sand Springs area. Jerry earned numerous certifications as an electrician and HVAC, and worked for Kerr Glass, Ball Glass, Tulsa Community College, and Bama Pies.
Jerry loved life and had many and varied interests. He enjoyed hunting but wasn’t really good at it, but fishing was just about his favorite thing and he was exceptionally good at that. He loved catching large amounts and hosting a big family fish fry. He loved gardening and sharing what he grew. He loved tinkering and could fix anything. He loved travel but despised the one cruise he went on, emphatically declaring it the first and last, possibly because there wasn’t much to do except relax.
More than anything, he loved the Lord, and his family. An ordained Baptist minister since November 30, 1977, he enjoyed leading songs at church and teaching Bible studies. He loved to spend time with the family playing board games, loved laughing and singing. He loved taking care of people, especially his family, and he took good care of them all. He loved wholeheartedly and was very much loved in return. He will be greatly missed.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Bessie Smith; his wife, Norma; his sister, Verna Mills; niece Lana Gibson and great-niece Melissa Gibson; uncle Arvel McKenzie and aunt Dorothy McKenzie; two stepchildren, Albert Ray Clausen and Deanna Carlton.
He is survived by one brother and sister-in-law, Larry Don and Marie Smith of Lamar; nieces and nephews Brandi Smith of Lamar, Larry Smith Jr. of Stillwater, Rick Byrd (Lisa) and Marla Chesser (Tony), all of Holdenville; great nieces and great nephews Erin Caudell, Toni Rae Moore, Charity Dobson, Ethan Byrd, Phillip Gibson, Kayline Parks, and Presley Ledbetter; cousins Kathy Fechter (Guy) and Brenda Playfair (John); stepdaughter-in-law Chris Clausen; five stepgrandchildren Megan Sowers (John), Desirae Clausen, Victoria Anderson (Brandon), John Carlton (Jennifer), and Cassidy Phelps (Allen); eleven step-great-grandchildren; special friend Tempa Ritterhouse; as well as numerous other family members and many friends.
Funeral services were held on Monday, May 2, 11:00 a.m., at First Baptist Church in Lamar, and Jerry was laid to rest at Lamar Cemetery with military honors. Rev. Tony Chesser and Rev. Marla Chesser were the officiating ministers. Pallbearers were Larry Smith Jr., Ryon Moore, Ronald Caudell, Jarrod Parks, Andrew Sowers, and Guy Fechter. Honorary pallbearers were Jackie Mills, Donnie Freeman, Ethan Byrd, Phillip Gibson, and Johnny Capps. www.fisherfh.net
