Jerry B. Gazaway, 75, longtime resident of Brownwood, Texas went to be with his Lord on Tuesday, May 23, 2017. He was living near his daughter in Duncan, Oklahoma the last few months of his life.
Funeral services will be Friday, May 26, 2017 at 2:00 at Coggin Avenue Baptist Church where he was a longtime member. Burial will follow in Eastlawn Memorial Park in Early. Visitation will be Thursday from 6:00-8:00 PM at Davis-Morris Funeral Home, 800 Center Ave., Brownwood. Pallbearers will be Jeff Ash, Jason Gazaway, Ken Harris, Gerry Kelley, Troy Evans and Buck Pierce.
Jerry was born to J.B. and Julia Ann (Jan) Gazaway on June 27, 1941 in Seminole, TX. He married the love of his life, Judy Ann Wester, on June 4, 1960 in Las Vegas, New Mexico. To this incredible loving relationship were born their two children, J. Byron and J’Nell Lynn. Throughout Jerry and Judy’s 52 years of marriage, they lived in numerous communities over the states of New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado with Pagosa Springs, Colorado (1978-1996) and Brownwood, Texas (1996 to February 2017) being the two communities in which they spent most of their married lives.
Jerry was an accomplished metal fabricator and machinist. He was one of the early pioneers of the shaving baler industry. He and his dad started baling shavings in the early 1970’s. He designed, built and marketed the REAL TUFF SHAVING BALER. He owned and operated THE MACHINE SHOP that was located on South Hwy 84 in Pagosa Springs from 1980-1996. Jerry and Judy then moved to Brownwood, Texas to be closer to family where he continued to market the REAL TUFF Baler from his Real Tuff Industries machine shop until his retirement in 2007. After his retirement, he was always available to do repairs for family, friends and his church. He loved working with his hands and he had the brilliant mind to be able to figure out a workable solution to any task that challenged him. His greatest accomplishment, which he greatly enjoyed, was to build the fence around the playground and the swing set at Coggin Avenue Baptist Church.
Jerry was a great man of faith. Because of his faith, he desired to follow the commands of his Lord which led him to being a loving husband, dad, grandpa, papa, brother, uncle and friend. His greatest desire was for all his family to put God first. He loved to serve his church family. In every church he attended, he served in some capacity. Most often he was a Sunday School teacher, which he absolutely loved; it was the highlight of his week. In several churches he was also music director. Jerry received much joy meeting the needs of others, never wanting repayment. He truly walked the walk of a follower of Christ.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, J.B. and Jan Gazaway, and his loving wife, Judy. He is survived by his son J. Byron and his wife, Adela, of San Antonio, TX; his daughter, J’Nell Ash and her husband, Greg, of Duncan, OK; his granddaughters Brianna Ghosn and husband, Jay; Kimberlee Ash and Bexy Carpenter and her husband, Gary; his grandsons Jeffrey Ash and fiancée Keri Hughes and Jason Gazaway; and his great-grandsons Preston and Isaiah Estrada and Jaxon Gazaway and great-granddaughters, Alaina Ash and Raquel Hughes; one sister, Boby Harris, and her husband, Ken, of Brownwood, TX; one brother, Tom Gazaway, and his wife, Judy, of Lemon Grove, CA; his nieces, Kathy McClure and Terry Goodman; his nephews Jeff Harris and Keith Gazaway; and cousins and close friends.
Online condolences may be sent to www.davismorrisfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to the Missions Fund of Coggin Avenue Baptist Church of Brownwood, Texas.