Our Dad, Jerry, was born in the little town of Duncan, Oklahoma in 1946. He was the first-born son of Virgil Mason Bryant and his wife, Nellie Mae, but the third to join the family. Our Dad grew up with two older sisters, Jeanie and Patsy, and a younger brother, Artie. He enjoyed reminiscing about all the mischief he and Artie would get into, sometimes resulting in broken bones and broken windows! He grew up in a Godly family, his Dad was a minister for The Church of Christ. Sundays for my Dad as a child would see his whole family drive to Services, often many miles away. As a family in The Church of Christ, they learned to sing hymns A Cappella, and as they aged, they sang even more! What a praiseful, joyful tradition! Our Dad kept this tradition alive in his own family. Many were the road trips with all of us belting out, “Come Unto Me”, and, “Labor On”. We loved singing hymns in the car with Dad!
After Dad graduated from Duncan High School, he entered the Army, where he served six years before his retirement due to medical reasons. Our Dad served his country in Korea as a cook during the Korean War. When he returned to the USA, he was eventually stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado. As chance would have it, our parents met on a blind date and Dad was so smitten he would often hitchhike the thirty-two miles from Fort Carson to Pueblo on his weekends off, just to spend time with our Mom. He finally proposed to our Mom at a local Taco Bell, and they were married on May 17, 1969. They were married for forty-nine years.
I, Denise, came along in June 1970. And, after Dad’s retirement from the Army, our parents decided to move to Duncan, Oklahoma where my Dad secured work in the oil fields. He wasn’t at that position very long when he was hired by Haliburton to work as a machinist. And, it wasn’t long before my sisters, Michelle and Jennifer, came along to bless our family. Our family lived in Duncan for about ten years before my Dad was laid off from Haliburton. When that happened, our parents decided to return to Colorado.
Our family lived with my Grandpa and Grandma Liñan in Avondale, Colorado for a brief time before our Dad found a position at Martin Marietta Aerospace (Martin Lockheed) in Denver. What a blessing! He worked hard as a precision machinist, earning many certificates of achievement and appreciation from his employer. He was a part of building missiles, satellites, rockets, and space equipment. Some examples of his work: The Titan missile, The Mars Lander 2001, and the early Jet Propulsion Backpack for astronauts. He retired after thirty-one years of hard work. Now, when he was working, he had to sign a confidentiality clause, so he was unable to discuss his work with us very much. But, once a year, Martin Marietta (Martin Lockheed) would host a family day for their employees. Us girls have many happy memories of our yearly visits to the campus where we were treated to see the various projects Dad worked on. It was exciting! Our Dad was doing important work.
Another happy memory us girls have of our Dad growing up is him making us homemade doughnut holes. Yummy! What a treat, and we didn’t get them often but when we did, love! They were the best! Our Dad had soft spot for his girls, and he used to let Jennifer stay up late with him to watch MASH. She really loved that.
Our Dad was a hard worker, but he also loved taking it easy. He enjoyed fishing and hunting from an early age. He liked to collect coins and enjoyed going out with his metal detector, trying to discover treasure. He was a huge Oklahoma Sooners and Denver Broncos fan, diehard! And, he loved competing in Fantasy Football. Rough Riders was his Fantasy Football Team’s name and he did win his FF Leagues Championship one year. He loved getting together with extended family for trips to the mountains, Bar B Ques, Talent Shows, etc. He really enjoyed traveling and he did get to travel to places such as the Holy Land and Rome, Alaska, and Maui. Maui was probably his favorite. He loved the beach and the ocean. He also really enjoyed gambling. Don’t get me wrong, he always took care of business first, but scratch tickets, poker games, slot machines and betting on the horses were fun pastimes for him. Our family has a tradition of betting a Superfecta bet on all the major horse races such as The Kentucky Derby. What will we do this year?
Our Dad was a strong, quiet, unassuming man. He was a simple man with a very big heart. He was very generous, and he was always willing to help those in need. And he did it without complaint. He opened his home to his adult children, grandchildren, and extended family. He literally gave the coat off his back to a homeless man. He personified Matthew 25: 31 -46. He never denied help. And, he was funny. He liked to laugh and boy, did my Mom make him laugh. He loved his family and he worked so hard for his family. He was so proud of his grandchildren and had high hopes for them. The smile on his face the day they each were born was priceless. I remember how he nicknamed Aaron, Kabuchi Man. I still have Aaron listed as “Kabuchi Man” for his contact info in my cell. Our Dad loved him so much, always playing with him, providing. Our Dad was like a father to Aaron. I remember Dad on the sidelines for all the grandkid’s sporting games. Yelling at the refs, cheering his heart out. Miss Liz, he was so gentle with. And as she became a young woman, he loved her even more. He especially loved taking selfie pics with her! And Kenzie, he was always on the floor playing with her at a young age. And he supported her horseback riding lessons. He just loved his grandkids so much.
Our Dad was a man of deep faith. He became a fourth degree Knight with the Saints Peter and Paul Knights of Columbus. He worked very hard as a volunteer at events such as The Sock Hop, The Garage Sale, The Our Lady of Guadalupe Dinner, The Saints Patrick Day Dinner, etc., to help raise funds for both his parish church and school. He dedicated one holy hour in adoration of The Blessed Sacrament once a week for many years, until health issues forced him to stop. Most importantly, he joined my Mom in the Homebound Ministry for Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church. Once or twice a week, he and my Mom would take The Blessed Sacrament to the homebound of the parish. He loved it. And their homebound loved him. He praised God during Mass with enthusiasm and passion. He was secure in his faith. He knew God was with him.
Our Dad suffered very much last few months. It was a very difficult time. Our family has suffered through some very dark times over the years and we’ve shared much joy. God blessed our Dad’s family with a spirit of forgiveness. We’ve stuck by each other through thick and thin. Our Dad is at the center of that. And our Mom. More importantly, our God. Our Dad taught us by example. God. Love. Family. Forgiveness. Selflessness. Hard work. Laughter. Tears. Joy. Courage.
Our Dad is survived by his wife, Mary Bryant. His daughters, Denise Johnson (Paul), Michelle Bryant (Wally), and Jennifer Stover. His grandchildren, Aaron Gonzales, Elizabeth Stover, and McKenzie Bryant. His Father, Virgil Bryant. His sisters, Jeanie Roland (Bill), Patsy Beall, and brother, Artie Bryant (Debra). And, several extended family members.
He was so greatly loved.
Our Dad, Jerry, was a very strong supporter of Catholic education. He provided for two daughters and helped to provide for three grandkids to attend Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School. He volunteered many, many hours over the years to raise funds benefiting the school. And he himself, donated many dollars for the school. Many have asked me if we have a Memorial Fund established in his name. And, although we do not have a fund set up, if you are so inclined, please consider donating, in his honor, to Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School. Checks can be made out and mailed to: Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School, 3920 Pierce St., Wheat Ridge, CO 80033. Please be sure to write our Dad’s name in the memo line if you decide you want to donate.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18