Jerald Evan Green

Jerald (Jerry) Evan Green, age 89, went home to be with the Lord on September 20, 2023. He fought a long, hard,17-year battle with Myasthenia Graves and seven-year battle with Parkinson’s disease. He never complained and always kept his thoughts on his sovereign Lord.

Jerry was born on June 21, 1934 in Atwater, Ohio to Leonard W. and Alice M. (Grimes) Green (both deceased). He had two older siblings, Thomas (deceased) and Ruth Rhoades. He married Nancy Lou Rhoads on March 18, 1956. He graduated from Kent State University with a B.S. in Education, graduated from Arizona State University with an M.A. in Guidance and Counseling, and then again attended Kent State for his Sixth Year Program in School Psychology. He began his career as a teacher in Mentor, Ohio before being called into active duty with the Air Force R.O.T.C. program. He trained in Harlingen, Texas to become a navigator on a KC-97 refueling plane. He was stationed at Pease Air Force base in New Hampshire. After Jerry left the Air force, he first taught in Kent, Ohio and later became a guidance counselor in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio and a school psychologist at Cloverleaf schools in Medina Co, Ohio. He had an opportunity to move back to Arizona and worked for the Mesa Unified School system as a school psychologist, while teaching at Mesa Community College. During his time in Mesa, he founded and was the first president of the Arizona Association of School Psychologists and the second president of the National Associations of School Psychologists. After retiring from Mesa schools, he returned to Ohio and was a school psychologist for Richland County School system for three years. He retired again and came back to Arizona. He became a born-again Christian on July 14, 1971. He served as an elder at Mesa’s Church of the Redeemer from 1976 to 1991, served as an ordained pastor at Pine’s Church on Randall Place from 1998 to 2001, and then served as an elder at Payson Christian Church from 2001 to 2005. He has also been a leader in various prayer ministries, especially with Promise Keepers, the National Day of Prayer, and Life Action Ministries.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy. They have four children: Michael (Karen) Green of Tempe, AZ, Shawna Green of Payson, AZ, Barry (Karen) Green of Gilbert, AZ, and Sharon (Norman) Butler of Mesa, AZ; and six grandchildren: Jason (DeeDee) Green, Timothy Green, Aubreanna (Daniel) Covert, Kirsten (Andrew) Hiemstra, Lauren Butler, and Brian (Charlotte) Butler; and four great-grandchildren. Jerry was greatly loved and respected by his family and friends. His greatest desire was for everyone to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, September 30th at 11.00 am. Located at:

Redeemer Bible Church 950 N. Greenfield Rd. Gilbert, AZ 85234.

The family has offered for those who wish to come to the Memorial Service are all invited.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mariposagardens.com for the Green family.