Jerry Ray Salmon

Jerry Ray Salmon, 71, husband of Jeannie (Franklin) Salmon of Hoover, Alabama, passed away from health complications at UAB Hospital on September 28, 2021, Born June 7, 1950, in Clinton, Missouri, he was the only son of the late Gerald and Cathaleen (Boone) Salmon. Jerry graduated from Clinton High School in 1968 where he participated in golf, wrestling, bowling and was elected “Most Scholarly” his senior. He went on to receive a Civil Engineering degree from the University of Missouri-Rolla School of Mines. In 1972, Jerry was drafted into the military and served his country in the Missouri National Guard. He began his career in engineering with the Missouri Highway Dept. in Bridge Inspection. He then moved his family to Birmingham, Alabama to work for Rust International as a senior engineer for 21 years. He then worked at SMW Engineering as Vice President and Chief Engineer for 15 years. Jerry was a dedicated member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Jerry was a member of Shades Mountain Baptist Church in Vestavia Hills, Alabama, where he served as an usher. It was during this time, he became a member of Gideons International, where he served as Secretary, then Vice President of the Birmingham SE area. Jerry was extremely proud of his three sons Jason, Jeffrey and Jameson, and the wonderful and accomplished men they became. His five grandsons and one granddaughter were the light of his life! He could be found down on the floor playing with trains, sitting in the bleachers at their sporting events or attending dance recitals. He loved Christmases with his family, vacations to DisneyWorld and summer trips to the Rocky Mountains. Later, after the boys married, he really looked forward to Christmas holidays together, and newer traditions like our annual fall trips to the Baker’s Farm Pumpkin Patch, and taking everyone on a winter, four-day getaway to a “mountain house” in the Appalachians. Jerry loved traveling, dining out, cheering on the Auburn Tigers and Kansas Chiefs, old Star Trek reruns, and a fresh bag of kettle corn. His dog, Abby, sure misses their afternoon popcorn breaks! Jerry is survived by his wife, Jeannie, of almost 49 years, sons Jason and wife Amanda (Orcutt) of Memphis, TN, Jeffrey and wife Lindley (Nowlin) of Birmingham, AL, Jameson and wife Melissa (Lawson) of Birmingham, AL; and six grandchildren, Jackson and Oliver of Memphis, TN, Parks, Celia, Lawson and Waights of Birmingham, AL. Friends and family are welcomed to celebrate Jerry’s life with visitation in the parlor and then to the Memorial Garden site on Sunday, October 24, 2021, 1pm, at Southern Heritage Funeral Home, 475 Cahaba Valley Road(Hwy 119), Pelham, Alabama. Donations may be made in Jerry’s name to Children's Hospital of Alabama, 1600 7th Ave. S, Birmingham, Alabama 35233.

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