It's the 6th day since Jerry left earth and time to write about his beautiful life. What a guy! 81 years and he lived it to the fullest. He was wrong part of the time but he was right the majority of the time. He ended with a strong belief and a strong heart for God and that is all that really matters. He walked for the Lord and now he is walking with the Lord. It's that easy!
Jerald (Jerry, JR) Roderick Reeves was born in the Myrtle Point, OR hospital on July 13, 1941 to William Clare Reeves and Helen Inez Stallard and was taken home to live and grow up in Powers, OR. He graduated from Powers High School in 1959. Jerry's first marriage was to Jean Griswold with children Jerri and Rod born into that family. In 1972 Jerry moved his first family to Tillamook and began saw filing at the Publishers Paper lumber mill. That marriage ended in 1982. The Lord God crossed the paths of Jerry and Debbi Schmitz (Werner) on February 19, 1983, they married July 30, 1983 and the rest is history. Jerry and Debbi were raising Dena and Chris (Werner) when in 1984 Jerry's sister Carmen passed away so her two daughters, Jerry's nieces, Sharon (Bowers) and Carrie (McCulloch) joined the Reeves family. From 1989 to 1991, with the help of many other friends and family members, Jerry built a beautiful home for Debbi and the family. This beautiful home is where Jerry passed away quietly and peacefully at the age of 81 years old on September 21, 2022 at 4:00 a.m. He was exactly where he wanted to be and loved to be.
Jerry worked as the Head Saw Filer and Saw Filer at the Tillamook Publishers Paper lumber mill, now the Hampton Lumber Mill, for 35 years, retiring in 2007. He was honored to be inducted in the Western Saw Filer Hall of Fame in 2006 for his skill and expertise in the art of saw filing. Jerry was also inducted into the Powers Community Hall of Fame in 2021 for his commitment and love to his hometown community for his entire life. Jerry was one of the founding members of Living Water Fellowship, a non-denominational church which began in Tillamook in 1985. He was a soft-spoken but dedicated and avid disciple for Jesus, even more so after his retirement when he had the time to be with others.
Jerry enjoyed elk and deer hunting with his boys or sauntering alone through the prairies and the forests in Tillamook and Powers. Digging up clams in the Netarts Bay was a favorite pastime for many years with and without family and friends. He raised a steer every year for the family freezer. He maintained the outside of the house and acreage for 32 years. Because he lived with rheumatoid arthritis for 51 years and numerous complications of that disease he always said he had to keep moving and he did.
Jerry was a quiet, humble man who loved others. Like many, he had lessons to learn as a younger man but did learn from his mistakes and overcame to become an honorable man of God. His wisdom and love was known to all who met him and got to know him. One of Jerry's favorite saying to others was "All is well", knowing with God, all is well.
Jerry is survived by his wife, Debra (Debbi) Schmitz, children Jerri (Doward) Eldridge of Killeen TX, Rodrick Reeves of Portland OR, Dena (Brian) Lemos of Windsor CO, Chris (Lisa) Werner of Adna, WA and adopted in love son, Ryan (Cynthia) Miller, Tillamook OR. Jerry's grandchildren are Annie Eldridge Lobato, Jennifer Eldridge, Heather Reeves Meyer, Ashlee Lemos, Hailey Lemos Sanders, Felicia Lemos, Eddie Lemos, Tyler Werner, Natalee Werner, Liam Miller and Silas Miller. Jerry's great grandchildren are JayDee Meyer, Elizabeth and Emma Lobato, Jason Eldridge, James Guin, Ana Rose and Sarah Sanders. Jerry is survived by his sister Sharon (Goodman) Giltz and husband Larry. Jerry leaves behind many cousins, nephews and nieces from the Stallard, Boutin, Walker, Brady, Wyland, Reeves, and Goodman families not to mention all the others who were more family than friends from the communities of Powers and Tillamook. Jerry was preceded in death by his father William Reeves, mother Helen Stallard Costello, sister Carmen Reeves McCulloch, brother William Goodman as well as grandparents and numerous uncles and aunts.
A celebration of Jerry's life has been set for May 27, 2023 at Living Water Fellowship in Tillamook (time to be announced) so that family and friends from all areas will be able to plan for and attend to share in this tribute to Jerry's life well lived. His presence on earth will be missed greatly but we all know that "All is well" and Jerry will be waiting to see all who follow Jesus Christ as savior and Lord.
No comments:
Post a Comment