Jerelyn Kay Jacks

Our friend Jerry was born Jerelyn Kay Stewart on December 27, 1951 to Ada Agatha (Dekins) Stewart and Rueben Raymond Stewart in Norman, OK. She grew up in Moore, OK as part of a trio of sisters, namely, Beverly, Elaine, and Jerelyn. These siblings forged an inseparable bond and remained close throughout their lives, with Jerelyn being the last survivor of the group.

Jerry met her rocker boyfriend and future spouse in high school in Moore. Roger Jacks played bass guitar in a band and rode a motorcycle, and Jerry soon became a fan. The two eventually married on October 1, 1971, and honeymooned at the Oklahoma State Fair with cold beer and corn dogs. They revisited that tradition at the State Fair nearly every year for the duration of their long marriage.

Jerry said her mother warned her that Roger would not put up with her antics for long. Roger proved her wrong on that count at least. Their loving bond and partnership lasted for more than fifty-three years until Roger’s passing in November of 2024.

While pursuing her college education, Jerry began working in the laboratory at the Oklahoma State Department of Health. She eventually earned college degrees in both biology and history. After a long career in the sciences working in various laboratories at OSDH, she finally retired in the mid-2000s as the supervisor of the serology laboratory.

Jerry was infinitely curious, a student of everything, and a lifelong learner. In addition to her college course work, she entered the Master Gardner program through OSU and became a certified Master Gardner. She spent many hours working in her own beautiful gardens as well as volunteering in the horticulture department at the OKC Zoo and Botanical Garden.

Jerry was also interested in astronomy and would often set up her telescope in the backyard on summer evenings to stargaze and observe notable celestial events. Her interests were not just directed toward the sky though; she also completed SCUBA diving training and became a certified diver so that she could explore the world beneath the waves as well. When astronomy and SCUBA diving were not enough to satisfy her curiosity, Jerry spent one summer at Lake Hefner taking classes through the YMCA to learn to sail!

When not pursuing her many and varied interests, you would likely find Jerry with her nose buried in a book. She was a voracious reader and particularly enjoyed sci-fi, urban fantasy, and non-fiction history.

Although Jerry and Roger never had children, they provided a loving home to many four-footed furry friends beginning with “Roscoe” and “Kitty Cat” at the beginning of their lives together, through “Doc” who was with them in their final years together.

Jerry was many things to many people, all of them good.

She lived a full life and was blessed to share much of it with a loving spouse and partner in Roger. On Thursday, July 23, 2026, Jerry passed from this life to the next - she and Roger are now together forever in the hereafter.

Well lived, well loved, well done, Jerry.