Jerry D. Helms

Jerry was born on the 1st of December 1944, in Lake Village, Arkansas. Jerry spent his childhood years on the farm in Chicot County, AR and several years in Houston. He graduated from Eudora High School where he met his future wife Sarah (Kay) Moon. They were married for sixty years.

He was in US Army Air Defense in El Paso and worked on the Nike Hercules Missiles Fire Control System electronics (student and instructor.) Jerry graduated from University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) with a B.S. Civil/Structural Engineering. Jerry was a Tau Beta Pi & ASCE Life Member.

Jerry was a Structural Engineer at Brown & Root Engineering & Construction in their Petro Chemical and Refining Group. He became a licensed Professional Engineer in 1977. Jerry later worked for CDI Engineering Group of Houston and retired in May 2015 as the Manager of their Civil/Structural Department. He was CDI’s Steering Team Representative to the Process Industry Practices (PIP) Organization.

Jerry was an active Birdwatcher for many years and a member of Houston Audubon. High Island, South Texas & the Gulf Coast were favorite places.

Jerry’s Tree Farm (Pine Plantations) in Arkansas was his most enjoyable retirement investment which he started with his dad in 1993 adjacent to the family farm operations. Jerry & Sarah were active in the Texas and Arkansas Forestry Associations and worked for many years with former Harris County Tree Farmers Association.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents CM & Edith Helms and his sister Diane Grubbs.

He is survived by his wife, Sarah; his brother, Johnny; his brother-in-law, Claude Grubbs; and his Uncle Buddy & Aunt Sis (both 90.) He is also survived by his nephews, John Helms, Jr. (Regi), and Will (Kim) Grubbs; his nieces, Merry Kay (Tommy) Kirkland, Tina Swallow (Jim), Beth Buron, and Piper Shealy; his great-nephews, Matt Grubbs, Matt (Ashley) Kirkland, Lucas (Kayla) Kirkland, Ridge (Jamey) Uselton, and Connor, Alex, and Ethan Uselton; five great-great-nephews and a niece.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family request with gratitude the memory contributions be made in Jerry’s memory to Houston Audubon or the charity of your choice.