Jerry Ray Amend

Jerry Ray Amend passed away peacefully on Monday, August 26, 2024, in his home in Del City, Oklahoma, having previously enjoyed several special days with close friends and family paying their respects to a truly great man.

Jerry was born on September 11, 1936, in Shawnee, Oklahoma, as the second son to his beloved Mother, Robbie Lee Lovett. The family moved to Moore, Oklahoma when Robbie married another truly great man, Anthony Clayton Amend. Jerry attended Moore High School, where he was a three-sport star athlete, playing football, basketball, and running track, all while being the drummer in his high school band, where we would skip football half-times to march in his football uniform! Jerry graduated from Moore High School in 1954 and earned a scholarship to play basketball at Coffeyville College in Kansas.

Rather than take this scholarship, Jerry chose to serve his country and enlisted in the United States Air Force following high school graduation. After completing basic training in San Antonio, Texas, Jerry was stationed in St. Johns, Newfoundland, Canada. It was here that he met the absolute love of his life, Shirley Florence Holwell, and the rest is history. Jerry and Shirley were married on December 17, 1956, in the First United Methodist Church in St. Johns, and remained happily married until Shirley’s passing in 2018, having celebrated an amazing 62 years together.

Jerry enjoyed a distinguished Air Force career in crypto communications and recruiting through several stationed locations including Canada, South Carolina, Texas, Hawaii, Washington, and Oklahoma. In 1972, during the Vietnam War, Jerry was stationed for a full year in Thailand, where he served with honor, having been awarded the U.S.A.F. Meritorious Service Medal. Jerry was also awarded two Air Force Commendation Medals, among several other awards, and honorably retired as a Senior Master Sergeant from Tinker Air Force Base on June 30, 1976.

Following his Air Force retirement, Jerry joined the instructional leadership staff at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), where he received a second federal government retirement in 1994. Jerry enjoyed full retirement for another 30 years from age 58 to nearly age 88. We should all be so lucky.

Education was important to Jerry, as he earned his B.A. from Columbia College while in the Air Force in 1976. Jerry went on to earn a Master of Education degree from the University of Central Oklahoma in 1978, and a Doctor of Education degree, ABD, from Oklahoma State University in 1981.

Following retirement, Jerry was rarely idle. Jerry was a 32nd Degree Master Mason like his father, Anthony Amend, and his son Brian R. Amend, and was also a Shriner. He served as the Chairman of the Del City Board of Adjustments for three years and was a member of the Del City Planning Commission for 11 years. However, Jerry found a new life purpose following his wife’s passing by volunteering three days a week at Master’s Market Mission, a food, clothing, and household items pantry in Midwest City, Oklahoma, up until five weeks before his passing. While most retirees are on the golf course or the lake, Jerry considered this his “job” and chose to fulfill this Christian mission along with other volunteers that he loved and were able to recently pay him their final respects.

Finally, and most importantly, Jerry and Shirley faithfully attended Sunnylane Baptist Church in Del City, Oklahoma for the past 30+ years. Jerry was a strong Christian who continuously affirmed his acceptance of Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior, living his life by faith and works, such that we know he is with his Heavenly Father, his wife Shirley, and all his loved ones forever in eternity, and we will see them again one day.

Jerry was predeceased by his brother Johnny Lee Nichols, his parents Anthony and Robbie Amend, his wife, Shirley Amend, his son Reginald Holwell, his nephew Hunter Siegel, and his daughter-in-law, Abbie Amend. Jerry is survived by his daughter-in-law Mai Holwell; son Anthony Eugene Amend; and son and daughter-in-law Brian R. Amend and Johanna Amend. Jerry is also survived by grandchildren/nieces/nephews/great grandchildren: Jeff and Angie Siegel; Bobby, Deborah, Keira, Boston, and Maric Jobes; Dylon, Karina, Mace and Mila Jo Sturges; Jarrett and Avery Siegel; Alec, Brian Andrew, Dylan, and Sophie Amend; Dylan, Bailey, and Laikyn Bradley; Robinson and Jones families.

A viewing and visitation will be held on Thursday, August 29, 2024, at Sunny Lane Funeral Home & Cemetery, 4000 SE 29th St., Del City, OK 73115 from 4 pm to 8 pm. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 31, 2024, at Sunnylane Baptist Church, 4500 SE 31st St., Del City, OK 73115 at 10 am. Flowers and donations in Jerry’s honor may be sent to either location.