Jerry was born the son of Trena and Charles (Ben) Ross. He graduated in 1956 from Montague High School and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corp, serving from 1956-1959. A very handsome man, he was also a wonderful dancer and singer. Jerry was the devoted and beloved husband of Loretta Lawrence, daughter of William and Gilletta Lawrence, whom he married on October 10, 1959. They were always holding hands and smiling at each other, or singing Johnny Mathis songs to each other. He was the adoring father of two adopted children; Eric and Susan. He built his own home while he worked for Teledyne Continental Motors and Shelby Public Schools. Jerry served the Lord as a member of Rothbury Community Church, and in 1979, took his family to Zaire, Africa, to serve as missionaries to the village people near Kinshasa, returning for medical reasons. He enjoyed gardening, hunting, and studying the Bible - usually wearing his trademark bib-overalls. Jerry had a unique sense of humor and a very contagious laugh. He was always affectionately doing sweet, thoughtful loving things for his wife - like picking a rose from their garden for her the morning he died. Later, on that warm summer morning, Jerry was working as a custodian for his church when he suddenly collapsed from a massive heart attack. He asked that his shoes be removed, and then closed his eyes and went to be with his Lord. His heart attack came only two weeks after he'd had a complete physical examination and received a clean bill of health. He is dearly loved and missed by his family and friends.
Jerry was born the son of Trena and Charles (Ben) Ross. He graduated in 1956 from Montague High School and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corp, serving from 1956-1959. A very handsome man, he was also a wonderful dancer and singer. Jerry was the devoted and beloved husband of Loretta Lawrence, daughter of William and Gilletta Lawrence, whom he married on October 10, 1959. They were always holding hands and smiling at each other, or singing Johnny Mathis songs to each other. He was the adoring father of two adopted children; Eric and Susan. He built his own home while he worked for Teledyne Continental Motors and Shelby Public Schools. Jerry served the Lord as a member of Rothbury Community Church, and in 1979, took his family to Zaire, Africa, to serve as missionaries to the village people near Kinshasa, returning for medical reasons. He enjoyed gardening, hunting, and studying the Bible - usually wearing his trademark bib-overalls. Jerry had a unique sense of humor and a very contagious laugh. He was always affectionately doing sweet, thoughtful loving things for his wife - like picking a rose from their garden for her the morning he died. Later, on that warm summer morning, Jerry was working as a custodian for his church when he suddenly collapsed from a massive heart attack. He asked that his shoes be removed, and then closed his eyes and went to be with his Lord. His heart attack came only two weeks after he'd had a complete physical examination and received a clean bill of health. He is dearly loved and missed by his family and friends.
