Jerry was born on January 31, 1940, in Madison, WI, to Edward and Amy Gaffney. After serving four years as an aviation electrician in the U.S. Navy, he worked as a carpenter for several years, and then attended a trade school to become an electronic technician. He was mechanically inclined and enjoyed a 30+ year career with Johnson Controls, Inc. On September 4, 1965, he married Louise Poth. They raised two daughters and two sons.
Jerry had many passions, some of which included watching the Green Bay Packers and Memphis Tigers with his family, fixing things around the house, reading and watching westerns, playing with his grandchildren and keeping a beautiful yard for everyone to enjoy. He was also a man of strong faith, living a life of God, always setting an example for his family and friends. He was known for his quick wit, his infectious laugh, and his laid-back demeanor.
Jerry was preceded in death by his father, Edward, and his mother, Amy. He is survived by his wife Louise, his four children, Tina Robbins (Michael), Michael Gaffney (Marie), David Gaffney, and Catherine Holmes (David), his sister Elaine Purcell, eleven grand-children, Alex (Lucy), Rachel, Shayla, Amy (Josh), Shane, Kaylee, Lindsey, Matthew, Anthony, Luke, and Lily, and four great-grand-children, Finley, Sawyer, Jordan, and Lewis.
A visitation will be held at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens on Sunday, November 8, from 5:00 - 7:00 pm with a rosary at 7pm. A funeral service will be held on Monday, November 9, at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Bartlett, TN, at 10:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to St. Jude Children's Hospital.
