Obituary of Jerry Winston McLemore

Jerry Winston McLemore passed away on October 7, 2024 at the age of 77. Born on August 16, 1947 in Madisonville, KY, Jerry was a stranger to no one and was the most diligent, hardest working man with true loyal devotion to his family, the Navy, his work peers and all students that he taught.

He joined the Navy at 17 telling his mother, not asking, that he was going to serve. He continued to serve for 22 years and advanced to Master Chief before retiring in 1986 while stationed in Puerto Rico with his family. He continued to serve the Navy as an independent contractor and later as a Civil Service employee with NAMTRAGRU for many years with his closest friends and work family in Millington, TN and later Pensacola, FL. While in the Navy, he earned his Bachelor’s in Mathematics at the University of Texas, Austin and his Master’s in Education at the University of Memphis. His “final” retirement was short lived as he also pursued his passion in education by becoming an adjunct professor of math at Pensacola State College.

Anyone who knew him, knew he couldn’t sit still or be idle. He was a Longhorn fan until the end and flashed the Hook’Em horns at any given opportunity. He longed to return to where he grew up in Kentucky and had hoped to make it back for one more visit. He loved to see his children and grandkids excel in academics. He loved being at all sporting events (soccer, football, especially baseball, basketball, and many others), math competitions, chess competitions and school award programs for his kids and grandkids and even volunteered at Millington South, SS Dixon Primary, and SS Intermediate. He was a very proud Papaw. “The outcome doesn’t matter. I just enjoy watching you play.”

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Linda McLemore of Pace, FL, his daughter Melissa (John) Herndon of Pace, FL and son Jerry “JW” McLemore II, Seoul, South Korea, brother Owen McLemore of Royce City, TX, brother-in-law Gerald Bennett, and sister-in-law Shirley Barrow of Dallas, TX and many cousins, nieces and nephews in KY, TX, and GA. His legacy continues with his cherished grandchildren, Logan Guerrero of Herndon, VA, Nathan Guerrero of Mason, TN, and Curtis and Joshua Herndon of Pace, FL.

He is preceded in death by his father Winston McLemore, mother Ola McLemore, sister Ferry Weber, sister Violet Bennett, and granddaughter Delaney Marie Herndon, and many cherished aunts, uncles, and cousins from Kentucky.

Family would like to thank Life Care Center of Pensacola for providing the best care in his final weeks and his dear friends Jerome Merriweather and Frank Smith for being there for him always.

Future graveside services will be held for a later date with anticipation for interment at Barrancas National Cemetery at NAS Pensacola.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Alzheimer’s Association or victims of Hurricane Milton or Hurricane Helene.

 

 

 

 

 

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