Jerry D Helmer

Jerry Donald Helmer, PhD – an officer, scholar, teacher and gentleman, passed away on June 24, 2016 in Tyler following an extended illness. Services will be held on Monday, June 27, 2016 at 10AM at Lloyd James Funeral Home, followed by a graveside service at Cathedral in the Pines Cemetery in Tyler.

Dr. Helmer was born on October 24, 1928 in Lueders to Charley and Ethel Lee Cook Helmer. Following graduation from Lueders High School in 1946, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. In 1951, he joined the United States Air Force, serving through 1952. He was ordered to Extended Active Duty and was honorably discharged in 1953 as a Second Lieutenant. In 1961, he signed up with the U.S. Air Force Reserves and retired as a Major in 1975.

Jerry graduated from Daniel Baker University (now Howard Payne University) in Brownwood with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1951. He played on the DBU football team, serving as team captain. He also pursued extensive post-graduate education by earning a Master’s of Education degree from Texas Tech University in Lubbock in 1957, a Master’s of Mathematics degree from the University of Oklahoma in Norman in 1967, and a Doctorate of Education from Texas Tech University in 1974.

Jerry met his future wife, Joan Judy Ridley, in Lubbock and they married on December 20, 1958. They had two children: Donald Henry Helmer and Melanie Jo Helmer Smith. Jerry was known for his devotion to his family, faith, country and the art and science of education.

His teaching career included posts at several Texas independent school districts: San Antonio, Wolfforth, and Kermit. In Midland, he was coordinator of math and computers for the Midland ISD. He also taught math at Midland College and Sul Ross State University. His life-long love of education and teaching was evidenced by his devotion to his students and fellow faculty members, along with his extensive library collections.

Dr. Helmer’s energy in the classroom was contagious, as was his ability to motivate students to think independently and to pursue their education with excitement. His former students remember him for making them feel as if they were the most important to him while in his classes. Throughout his career, he loved studying philosophy and math and was driven to search for the truths in life.

Jerry’s parents, siblings and grandchildren – brothers E.L., A. J. and O.Z., sisters Ovalie and Cora Mae, and grandchildren Luke and Lawrence Smith (twin grandsons) – preceded him in death.

Survivors include his wife, Joan Ridley Helmer of Tyler; son and daughter-in-law Donald and Anne-Marie Helmer of Katy; and daughter and son-in-law Melanie and Evans Smith, MD, of Tyler. Grandchildren are Kaia-Marie and Anne Josefine Helmer of Katy, and Hattie MaGee and Henry Marsh Smith, of Tyler.