Jerry Elton Burrell

Jerry Burrell, born December 29, 1932 in Paradise Bottom Kentucky, a rural Meade County farming community, passed away February 9, 2026. Jerry was the 3rd of 6 children born to Virgil and Juanita Crecelius Burrell. He was the last of his generation in the Burrell family, outliving his siblings; Clifford, Verliet, Edna, Douglas, and Mary.

Jerry started school in a one-room school house before the family moved to Big Bend, Kentucky on the banks of the Ohio River in 1939. When it was time to start high school, there was no bus service to take him to Brandenburg where the nearest Kentucky high school was located. At age 13, Jerry rowed a Jon boat across the Ohio River to walk up the Indiana riverbank, to catch the school bus that transported him to Leavenworth Indiana High School.

In 1950, Jerry served in the Navy aboard the aircraft carrier, USS Kearsarge, during the Korean War. While home on leave in April 1954, he married Betty Payne, his Meade County sweetheart. After the Navy, they settled in Louisville, KY where they would raise their daughter. Converting to Catholicism, Jerry was confirmed in the church with his daughter in 1964.

Jerry began a life-long career with the Louisville Police Department in 1955. Over the next 33 years, he served in various roles/departments before the Chief assigned him command of the City garage, overseeing the purchasing, service and distribution of all department vehicles, a position he held until his retirement in 1988. He was proud to have had a long Police career, achieving more than he imagined considering his humble beginning. Later, he would laugh saying the City of Louisville didn’t bargain for paying him retirement longer than he had worked!

Never without a boat, Ohio River water ran through Jerry’s veins. He loved taking his houseboat on trips from Louisville down river to Blue River Island and up river to Madison, IN. He had a passion for fishing, and catching catfish was his favorite. He also became the official dog walker for everyone’s dogs when he docked in Harrod’s Creek. He never met a dog he didn’t like, but he was devoted to Cody, his grand dog. He never lost his love for the river, but his boating life wound down in 2016.

Jerry never remarried after his wife Betty passed in 1987. His son-in-law Bill Glidewell, also went before him in 2018. His daughter Judy Glidewell, will treasure memories of him, as will his eight nieces. His McDonald’s Liar’s Club will no doubt recall many of his stories! Jerry’s long life touched many people and he will be missed.

Visitation will begin at 12pm on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, with a funeral service at 2pm, at Evergreen Funeral Home, 4623 Preston Hwy, Louisville, Kentucky. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Hildegard House, which provided loving care and support to Jerry and his daughter in the last days of his life. Hildegard House, PO Box 5613 Louisville, KY 40255.