New Hampton, MO: Jerry D. Wilson was born Dec. 14, 1937 in Bethany to Olin and Mildred (Runyan) Wilson. He passed away April 14, 2022 at Pineview Manor Nursing Home in Stanberry, Mo.
He grew up on the family farm south of New Hampton, MO where he attended grade school plus his freshman year, graduating from Southwest Harrison High School at Bethany in 1955.
In 1958 he joined the Army Reserve Unit of Bethany and was discharged in 1964.
Jerry was raised in a small community, but traveled to many states. He began as a school bus driver and farmer, but his adventures were all behind the wheel of a truck. It was a pick truck hauling horses, an 18 wheeler, and his gravel truck. You could find him telling his friends about those adventures at the New Hampton Coffee Shop when he was younger and most recently at the Pattonsburg Senior Center. You would probably hear Jerry before you saw him, he had a booming voice that we will all miss. Although he had many jobs his favorite one was raising, training and racing horses. He loved riding with friends participating in horse shows or going to rodeo. In his opinion there wasn’t anything better than a good horse race with friends or his sister. Jerry was a cowboy from the inside out, his love for horses ran deep in his soul. His cowboy boots, belt buckles, Levi jeans, plus overalls and his gait was a dead ringer of his love for being outdoors and on the back of a horse.
In 1995 Jerry married Janice Stitt. When Janice’s son Michael passed away they adopted his children, Saddie and Mike. During their years growing up he loved watching them dance, being Papa was a great title to him.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents plus Janice’s son Michael. He is survived by his wife, children Saddie and Mike. Janice’s children, Marvin Stitt, Sandra Goble, Duane Stitt, sister Frances Connell and niece Beth Wilson.
Jerry was a member of the United Methodist Church of New Hampton.
The last goodbyes are the hardest ones to say. This is where the Cowboy rides away. Memorial Graveside Service and Inurnment: 1:30 PM Friday, April 22 at the Foster Cemetery, New Hampton. Memorial Contributions: Foster Cemetery in care of the Roberson-Polley Chapel, 403 N. Hundley, Albany, MO 64402. Online condolences: www.robersonpolleychapel.com