Jerry Don Laffoon

Jerry Don Laffoon passed away peacefully on September 11, 2026, in Norman, Oklahoma. He was born on January 1, 1939, in Fort Cobb, Oklahoma, to Ray Gilman Laffoon and Mae Belle Bailey Laffoon. The fifth of six children, Jerry was the youngest son in his family.

Jerry married the love of his life, Barbara “Kay” Armstrong, in 1959. The young couple began their marriage with a carefully considered five-year plan: Kay would work while Jerry completed college, and then they would start a family. Their plans were joyfully revised with the arrival of their first son, Jerry Randal “Randy” Laffoon, near the end of their first year of marriage. Their family grew again with the birth of their son, Todd, in 1964.

After working for a consumer finance company for two years, Jerry began what would become a distinguished 30-year career with Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in 1961. He started in business sales in Oklahoma City before accepting a management position in Altus in 1966. His career later took the family to Enid and Bartlesville before they returned to Oklahoma City in 1969. In 1975, Jerry was appointed district manager in Norman, and the family made Norman their home that August.

Jerry earned his degree in accounting from Oklahoma City University in 1970. He often joked that the couple’s original five-year plan had finally worked—it had simply taken 11 years to complete.

His work with Southwestern Bell provided Jerry with many opportunities to serve the communities he called home. He served as president of both the Norman Rotary Club and the Norman Chamber of Commerce. In 1979, he was campaign chairman for the Norman United Way. In 1983, Jerry was appointed Division Manager of Public Affairs for Southwestern Bell, representing the company at the Oklahoma State Capitol and in Washington, D.C. He retired at the end of 1991 at the age of 53.

Jerry and Kay shared an entrepreneurial spirit and took great pride in their family-owned businesses. In 1978, Kay opened The Desk Set in Norman, which later expanded to include two Oklahoma City locations. The stores were acquired by a regional chain in 1990. Kay later opened Write Ideas, a card and gift shop in Norman, where Jerry enjoyed helping following his retirement. Their sons continued the family’s business tradition by opening Norman Cellular in 1991 and later expanding into Oklahoma City and Wichita, Kansas.

Jerry and Kay were devoted and active members of McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church. They also shared a love of travel and were grateful for the opportunity to explore destinations throughout the United States and Europe. As enthusiastic University of Oklahoma fans, they especially enjoyed traveling to OU football games and cheering on the Sooners at many memorable bowl games.

Above all, Jerry treasured his family. His grandchildren were at the center of many of the happiest moments he and Kay shared, and he considered it a true blessing to have them close enough to see often. His life was marked by hard work, civic service, faith, humor, and a deep devotion to those he loved.

Jerry was preceded in death by his son, Jerry Randal “Randy” Laffoon, and his parents, Ray Gilman Laffoon and Mae Belle Bailey Laffoon.

Those left to cherish his memory include his beloved wife, Barbara “Kay” Laffoon; his son, Todd Laffoon and wife Kim of Wichita, Kansas; Randy’s wife Debbie; his grandchildren, Trevor, Trent and wife Kelsey, Kenzie, Katie and Kai; his great-grandchildren, Lainey and Beckett; and many other loving relatives, friends, and members of the Norman community.

A Celebration of Life will be held at McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church, 419 S University Blvd, Norman, OK 73069, US, on September 21, 2026, at 2:00 PM.