Jerry Edward Denham

B-September 13,1934

D-June 12,2016

Jerry was born September 13, 1934 in Lubbock,TX to Ethel Dolly Blagg Denham and Horace Elson Denham. Jerry had two sisters and four brothers. His sisters were Faye Maxine, Carolyn June, and the brothers were Elson Lee, James Kenneth, Jack Wayne and Winnefred Neal. His four brothers all died between the ages of two and a half months and thirteen years of age. Jerry was the youngest of seven children. His Grandma Blagg was the one that he talked about the most and was his safe place. His father left the family when he was young and he spoke about the time he spent on the ranch with his Dad but his Mom insisted he stay with her.

His Mom remarried when Jerry was twelve to his step-father, Otho Sanders. His Grandmother Blagg owned a hotel and that's where he would go when his Mom and Otho weren't getting along. Otho was an alcoholic so it made for many a hectic nights, unfortunately. Jerry would take off to the hotel. He loved his Grandma. His childhood was lonely.

Jerry apparently thought he was too smart for school so he started running around not listening to his Mom or sister, Maxine who was twelve years older than him. Maxine married Joe Junior when Jerry was nine. Maxine and Joe also tried to raise Jerry and his sister, Carolyn.

Jerry joined the Navy, September 18, 1951, when he was 17 years old. That is when he left Lubbock and came to San Diego. Not knowing at the time that he probably saved himself from trouble. He met his future wife Shirley at the skating rink. He tripped her as she skated by and for some reason introducted himself as "Billy". Jerry and Shirley dated for awhile and Jerry called her one day and said he wouldn't be able to see her anymore because he was being stationed on North Island and Shirley started laughing at him because she knew he would be right across the bay.

In time he won Shirley's heart and they went to Yuma,AZ and got married on November 22, 1952. They were sixteen and eighteen years old. They practically raised each other! Their Mom's names were both Ethel and they each had a sister named Carolyn. It was meant to be!!!

Jerry was stationed on the Princeton and served during the Korean War. He traveled to Guam, Japan and Hawaii. They decided to raise their family in San Diego. Jerry's Mom lived in Texas and his oldest sister, Maxine and his youngest sister raised her family in New Jersey. Shirley's family all lived in San Diego at the time.

While out to sea, Jerry became a father for the first time at the age of twenty. He had a daughter, Kathryn Marilyn. Five years later they would have a son named Craig Edward. Jerry wouldn't let his wife work outside of the home if they were going to have a family. He remembered his lonely childhood.

After Jerry got out of the Navy he worked all day and went to school at night. He doesn't suggest doing it that way! He worked at Convair, Aldila, McDonald Douglas and Boeing. When asked what he did at work he would just say if I told you, I'd have to kill ya. Jerry was the youngest manager at Convair. His friend, Don Bridges, worked at every job with Jerry. Don would get Jerry a job or Jerry would get Don a job. Some of Jerry's nicknames at work were BLUE and POPS.

Jerry was a hard working man. He loved his family and would do anything for them. The family was always first! He was a handyman and could fix anything and do everything around the house. He said he figured if something was broke he could only fix it or forget it. It was already broke. He was a stubborn man and he knew what he wanted and that is all he needed. He always made everything better. He was always telling jokes and didn't like to see people hurt or in trouble. If you want a glimpse of Jerry, watch the movie, Grand Torino. Tough on the outside and soft on the inside!

He enjoyed the outdoors and that is where you would find him. He was always out tinkering in the garage, going for a walk or working in the yard. Weekends were spent going to the mountains or the desert to ride with his kids.

Jerry and Shirley had four grandchildren. Two from Kathy, Jerry and Joseph and two from Craig, Kristin and John. Kathy also has a step-son from her first marriage, Steven. Twenty months ago Jerry became a Great-Grandpa and boy was he proud of Bentley. A new video or picture made his week. He couldn't figure out why everyone was spread all over. Joseph was in Seattle, Kristin was in Arizona, John was in Santa Barbara and Jerry was in North Park. He thought Lakeside was so far out you had to bring a lunch to go to Jerry's.

Jerry was an early riser. He would be up by 5:00 am to 5:30am every morning. He always said he had to get up early before the world got all screwed up. He hated his wife and kids to stay in their pj's after they woke up. He would say "Your burning daylight!".

Other than his family, his favorite person in the world was John Wayne. He liked his movies and talked as if he was a personal friend. John and I did this and John and I did that. He's probably the first person he looked up!

Jerry was married to his wife, Shirley, for sixty years! They raised their children and they spent lots of time with their Grandchildren and lived in Clairemont for fifty years. Jerry got transferred to Long Beach for Boeing and their lifes changed. They lived at Disneyland RV park and then Newport Dunes until Jerry retired. After Jerry retired they moved back to San Diego until Shirley got restless and decided she wanted to sell her house and move to Banning,CA. Jerry went along with the move, hesistently. They moved into Sun Lakes a retirement community, a daycare for the elderly. They meant many new friends camping, improving their house,going to Laughlin and Las Vegas,joining groups, going on cruises but Jerry didn't care for it because he said there were too many old people. He said the taxi in Sun Lakes was an ambulance. Shirley loved it so that's where they stayed. Jerry became friends with Debbi and Kristin that lived across the street. Helped Jerry get through the days.

In 2005, Jerry and Shirley lost their son in an automobile accident. Shirley's health started to decline and Jerry had his hands full. Seems like Shirley was always going for a ride in Sun Lakes taxi to the hospital. Jerry's life turned to full time housewife and nurse when Shirley started to get demenia and other ailments. Jerry did everything for her, she was so lucky she had Jerry. In 2013 Shirley passed and Jerry put the house up for sale, the next week.

Jerry sold his house and moved down to San Diego with his daughter, Kathy. He kept himself busy doing work and building at Kathy's house. He lived there for three and a half years. They traveled to see Joseph and Kim in Seattle and over to Texas to see his hometown and visit his Mom's resting site. Jerry meant many neighbors in Lakeside by sitting outside in the front and talking to everyone that walked by! I think he made everyone a birdhouse. He wanted to stay busy. His mind was sharp and his body started to hurt so bad he couldn't do much and he hated it. His last month was miserable but he tried the best he could to get through the days in pain. His friends and family became his whole life. He will be missed. We all love him.