Jerry was born on June 14, 1940 at General Hospital in Kansas City to Harold E. and Gertrude L. (O’Neal) Tarwater. He graduated from King City High School in King City, MO after which he served his country honorably in the military for four years as a member of the Air Force. He served in Germany in the Air Force police K-9 unit. After his military service, Jerry returned home to Kansas City and was introduced to Alice Bibee by her sister Opal. Alice was the love of his life. Together they welcomed three sons, Rick, Kevin and Brian. They were married for 60 years before Alice passed away on August 17, 2023.
Jerry loved motorcycles and after he and Alice were married, they moved to Long Beach, California so he could ride his BSA bike year-round. After a few years in California, Alice and Jerry settled in Raytown, Missouri in the Gregory Heights neighborhood where he and Alice had many close friends who would often join them out on the front porch to chat. Jerry loved pets and had many dogs over the years. In recent years, he and Alice befriended some neighborhood cats, giving them names, feeding them and making sure they had shelter from the weather.
Maybe because he was born on Flag Day or maybe due to his military service, Jerry was fiercely patriotic. He flew the flag and never missed an opportunity to thank the veterans he encountered while out and about for their service.
Jerry was a member of the Teamsters and worked as a truck driver for Missouri Pacific and finally Jack Cooper Transport from which he retired in 1999. Jerry loved spending time outdoors fishing, hunting, training his various gundogs and even doing yard work. He was very diligent about keeping up the yard and was still mowing an acre lot earlier this year. When the boys were young, he and Alice loved taking them camping and fishing, usually with family and friends. He taught them how to swim, fish, water ski and love the outdoors. Through the years, he also participated in several bass fishing tournaments. He was a supporter of the boys’ activities whether they were in sports or band.
In retirement, he and Alice took trips in their RV and spent time with family and friends, often taking family members to doctor appointments and helping with whatever they needed. When Alice was diagnosed with cancer, Jerry became her primary caregiver. He cooked, cleaned and made sure she had everything she needed. His loving care was a wonderful example to all who knew them.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents and beloved wife Alice as well as brothers Charles “Bud” Tarwater, Larry Tarwater and sister-in-law Wilma, sisters Dorothy Reeves and brother-in-law Howard Reeves, Bertha “Sis” Nelson and brother-in-law Louis Nelson and granddaughter Natalie Tarwater.
He is survived by sons Rick (Tina) Tarwater of Drexel MO, Kevin (Theresa) Tarwater of Lee’s Summit MO, Brian (Susan) Tarwater of Higginsville MO. Grandchildren Brady (Cayla) Tarwater of Pleasant Hill, MO, Hannah Tarwater of Lee’s Summit and great grandchildren Alexandria and Isaac Tarwater of Pleasant Hill, MO. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Mary Margaret Tarwater and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Jerry enjoyed a good joke and loved to laugh! He will be missed by many people but most of all by his family and friends.
