Gerald Jerry Dean Fox

Gerald Dean Fox was a modest man, quiet and observant in his ways. He was trustworthy and traditional in his approach to his life and in his relationships. He was tough-minded with the kind of “stick to it” attitude that earned the respect of all who knew him. He was also a man who was meticulous, carefully disciplined, and orderly in virtually everything he undertook. Realistic about life, he was always at the ready, prepared to take on responsibility.

      Jerry was born on September 27, 1933 at Jennie Edmundson Memorial Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa. His parents were Clyde Roy and Hilda (Franklin) Fox. Jerry was raised in Elliott, Iowa. He was brought up to be self-confident and dependable. These were traits that would serve him well throughout his life.

      Growing up in the Fox household was a bit different than most homes. There were good times to be had, but just as often there was a fair share of challenges as well. The family moved from farm to farm which was not easy. However, Jerry was able to work through the usual family problems when they appeared, and he was the one person in the family who seemed able to keep the stress at bay. He had a sister Phyllis Jane and two brothers Donald Clyde and Louis Franklin, all died during infancy before 2 years of age ,and before Jerry was born.

      As a young child, Jerry was never someone who needed to be the center of attention. He wasn’t pushy and never forced his way into games or other activities. Jerry developed a variety of interests, though, and the things he enjoyed doing he did well. He was always curious about the world around him and was often eager to explore it. Jerry took part in basketball, 1-2-3- baseball 1-2-3-4,and football. 1-2-4. He was a scout. Jerry's memorable achievements included raising beef for showing at Aksarben in Nebraska. However, what Jerry enjoyed most was simply playing and spending time with his many friends.

      While his teachers and even his friends generally thought of Jerry as being a serious person, he managed to have a pretty good time in high school as he made that critical transition from adolescence to adulthood. He graduated from Elliott High School in 1951. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. Jerry played a saxophone in band. Jerry was a very logical person who enjoyed learning about factual information. Using his exceptional memory, he was able to learn much through observation. Jerry always seemed to have a command of the facts and was able to make it seem as though he could easily master any problem that might be presented to him. While growing up some of his best friends were Lloyd Tracy, Gordon Frink, and Richard LeRette.

Following High School Graduation Jerry enlisted in the U.S. Naval Air Force. Basic training was in San Diego, California, and he moved from Memphis, Tennessee to Norman, Oklahoma, before coming to Hutchinson, Kansas to the Naval Air Station. It was while he was stationed there he met Eleanor May Fox who would become his wife. All his Active service was stateside and during the Korean Conflict. Through his hard work and dedication, he achieved the rank of AD2, and received praise for his valor, including being awarded the National Defense Service Medal. A literal thinker who possessed a calm exterior, Jerry seemed to enjoy the routines set forth by the military. His results-oriented approach to things made him committed to the job, and he understood well his role in serving his country.

On March 4, 1954, Jerry exchanged wedding vows with Eleanor May Fox at the Ashland Methodist Church in Ashland, Kansas. This was Eleanor's birthplace. Compassionate and devoted to Eleanor, Jerry held endearing, traditional values about marriage and family life. He took the responsibility of marriage to heart, giving it his total commitment. He secured an apartment in Hutchinson, Kansas and thus began their lifelong journey as husband and wife. On May 1, 1956 their first child, a daughter, Deena May was born. He was a source of strength to Eleanor and using his gifts at nurturing one-on-one relationships, he worked hard to make his new family happy. In the fall of 1956 when his active duty ended the family moved to Ashland, Kansas where Jerry went to work for United Producing Oil Co. in their water-flood program at the Harper Lease near Sitka, Ks. Jerry worked in this capacity for the next ten years until it became necessary to transfer to a field in Oklahoma. Jerry had a small Radio & T.V. Service business also, and decided it was time to make a change since a move was emanate. It would enable him to further his education in electronics. During the years at Ashland the second daughter, Denise Yvonne was born on June 7, 1958. Then On October 6, 1960 their son, Gerald Dean II was born.

Jerry brought the same traditional values in his marriage to bear on how he raised his children. He was a good parent to them, always firm yet fair in his dealings. He would always listen carefully and think things through before he acted, even when it was an adverse situation. Jerry was also a walking schedule, always seeming to know what everyone in the family needed to do, where they needed to be and when they needed to be there.

In October of 1966 the family moved to Goddard, Ks. Jerry now would advance in the field of Electronics and enrolled at the Wichita Technical Institute in Wichita, Ks. Jerry was able to read the material and retain the information in a way that impressed his fellow classmates. The ability to efficiently complete the task at hand was a skill that served Jerry well. He excelled in this and through necessary tests taken following his graduation, passed and was granted his First Class Radio and Telephone Operators license from the Federal Communications Commission (F.C.C.). During his schooling at WTI he also took employment with Cessna Aircraft Co. , working the second shift so he could continue at WTI during the daytime. Following his graduation from WTI he set up a business out of his house which was known as "Jerry's Radio & T.V." After a few years it became necessary to cease that business so that he could commit totally to Cessna. He worked for Cessna for 32 1/2 years, finally retiring in 1999. He enjoyed his job with Cessna in the Engineering Experimental Aviation Department and was job leader for second and third shifts. Many friendships were formed over these years that lasted after retirement..

Jerry greatly enjoyed what he did for a living. He was a hard worker who expected the same in return from his co-workers. He was skilled at working effectively in small groups and in one-on-one situations as well as handling solo assignments efficiently. Jerry enjoyed dealing with concrete ideas and could penetrate any amount of fuzzy information to reach the essential facts. Always able to attend to the task at hand, Jerry was excellent at meeting deadlines. He was an efficient worker, one who paid careful attention to detail, allowing sufficient time to complete one task before moving on to the next.

Jerry liked to experience things first-hand as well as learn about them. This trait carried over into his hobbies, where he was very methodical in how he organized his activities and categorized things. Since he enjoyed his private time, Jerry always tried to allocate a specific time for working on his hobbies. His favorite pursuit was a home he rebuilt for his family. Jerry was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

 Always considered to be a solid friend, Jerry was fortunate to have numerous acquaintances and several very close friends during his life. Since he disliked making generalizations about people and preferred to draw his own conclusions based on direct observation, Jerry was able to see beneath the surface of relationships and became a true friend to those who knew him. He was committed to his friends and valued the trust he placed in them. It was not uncommon for Jerry to go beyond the call of duty for others, and friends frequently sought him out for advice because he had a knack for coming up with practical solutions to any type of dilemma.

Jerry was blessed with Three children, They were also blessed with Eight grandchildren, Andrea, Michelle, Greg, Elizabeth, Evan, Jacob, Jaclyn, and Cassandra, and one great-granddaughter, Jorgie.

      Many organizations were grateful to have Jerry as a member, since he always brought with him a “stick to it” attitude and a high degree of common sense. Using straightforward methods to successfully complete the job, Jerry was a great planner who was incredibly well organized. It seemed that he was able to schedule any event or activity with ease. He always seemed to know exactly what needed to be done. In high school, Jerry was a member of the FFA. Throughout his later years, Jerry was a member of the Ashland Junior Chamber of Commerce and Goddard American Legion.

      Jerry was a man who was dedicated and devoted to his faith. He was a member of Elliott Church of Christ and was baptized there. He was a sympathetic man who valued his beliefs and was willing to work tirelessly for them.

      Jerry enjoyed traveling and taking vacations. Since he was an early starter and had a knack for planning everything, traveling with Jerry appeared effortless. He enjoyed researching all of his examined options and applying cost-effective planning techniques. Plus, no matter where he traveled, Jerry always had a back up plan at the ready, just in case. Favorite vacations included Shell Knob, Missouri and Branson, Missouri.

      Jerry was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. One of Jerry’s favorites was Dusty, a mixed breed Shepherd. They were best friends for 10 years. His family was rounded out by his two dogs, Duchess and Dandi, two cats, Snuffy and Snoopy.

      When Jerry’s retirement finally arrived in 1999, he was well prepared. He always trusted and placed value in what was logical and in the things he knew, so he was very confident in planning his retirement. He had begun the process early and had his retirement all laid out well in advance. His new life involved home in Goddard, Kansas. Even in retirement, Jerry continued to stay in touch with his old friends. He felt fulfilled.

      Gerald Dean Fox passed away on October 31, 2009 at Harry Hynes Hospice, Via Christi Hospital in Wichita, Kansas. Jerry fought a brave battle against cancer. He is survived by wife Eleanor; his children Gerald II (Jerry)(and wife Julie), Deena,(and husband, Paul ) Denise;(and husband, Brett) : his grandchildren Andrea, Michelle, Greg, Liz, Evan, Jacob, Jaclyn, and Cassie.,and gr- granddaughter, Jorgie. Services were held at Resthaven Mortuary Chapel. Jerry was laid to rest in Resthaven Gardens of Memory in Wichita, Kansas.

      Commitment is a key word that can be used to describe the life of Gerald Dean Fox. He was committed to living the life of a good man who was both practical and trustworthy. He was committed to the traditional values that he upheld his entire life. He committed himself to being a hard worker who expected the same effort in return from those around him. Most of all, he was committed to those he knew and loved.