Obituaries

Jerry W. Reid, age 74, of Sherman, Texas, a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend to many, joined our Lord in Heaven on Thursday, January 11, 2024.

Gerald (Jerry) Wayne Reid was born on December 5, 1949, in Dallas, Texas, to the late Barbara and Dr. Creighton Reid. The Reid family moved from Dallas to Sherman, where he and his three brothers made the good kind of trouble (for the most part) and attended Sherman schools. Jerry was a proud 1968 graduate of Sherman High School and went on to attend Texas Tech University and The University of North Texas. Following a break to attend to a very important matter—more on this shortly—he received his Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University-Commerce in 1993.

Of course, the “very important matter” was a pretty girl. Jerry was back in Sherman after attending North Texas, and there he reconnected with an old high school friend, who also happened to be a former customer’s daughter (on his paper route when he was 11). Two years later, on June 19, 1976, he and Sarah Margaret White were married. They would go on to enjoy 47 wonderful years of marriage. Two children joined the mix and much later, two grandchildren. Jerry loved nothing more than spending time with his family.

Jerry worked at Anderson Clayton/Kraft Foods for 20 years before deciding to change careers. He went back to college at age 44, earned his teaching certificate, and taught fourth grade at Wakefield Elementary School—the same school he attended as a child. Jerry loved teaching, especially leading his fourth-grade students in science experiments and taste tests. He retired in 2008, and Jerry and Sarah relished the opportunity to travel together. Other pastimes included volunteering at Grand Central Station, counting bluebird eggs for the Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, serving with Family Promise of Grayson County and on the board of Covenant Presbyterian Church Preschool.

An avid outdoorsman, Jerry had a lifelong passion for hunting and fishing. He never missed an opportunity to be at Sherman Country Club, where he was a former board member. He cherished the camaraderie of the club members and especially loved hunting and fishing with his son, James. Beyond the borders of SCC, he took delight in travel plans made by his daughter, Emily. Whether she was studying abroad or just had a grand idea, from camping in the tent trailer, to traveling to Spain, The Netherlands, and many other unique destinations, they always had a great time.

Jerry was baptized at the First Baptist Church in Sherman at age 9 in 1958. He was a long-time member of Covenant Presbyterian Church, joining the church on Mother's Day, 1982, the day James was baptized.

Jerry loved to know people but didn’t love talking about himself, so you may not know that he… was a former honorable member of the National Geographic Society; worked as a television producer in high school; earned his private pilot's license at age 17; a few years later, flew a brand new Piper Cherokee solo from Florida to Sherman; piloted a plane just this past year; once hitchhiked from Sherman to Chicago; was shy but never met a stranger; was a talented cook and very capable “Mister Fix-It”; was a great fisherman; was a high school youth leader at Covenant Presbyterian Church; loved teaching his kids, grandkids, and students; was an enthusiast of the US Space Program and witnessed the last night launch of the space shuttle in February 2010; and viewed the last total eclipse of the sun from high in the Grand Tetons in 2017 with good friends.

Jerry is survived by his wife of 47 years, Sarah, of Sherman, and their two children: James Reid and wife Jen of Dallas, and Emily Reid of Austin. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Jacob Reid and Margaret Reid of Dallas; his brothers, Scott Reid and husband Dan Rzepkowski of Dallas, Tom Reid and wife Ginger of Houston, Jeff Reid and wife Mary of Colorado; and his nephews, Jeff Reid and wife Lori of Atlanta, Georgia, Derek Reid and wife Nicole of Prairie Valley, Kansas, and their children Hudson and Larsen, David Reid and wife Shannon of Houston, and William Reid of New York City, New York. He was preceded in death by his parents, Barbara and Creighton Reid.

The Reid family would like to thank Dr. Christian Cooper and Dr. David Davis for their amazing care over the years, and Dr. Azmina Patel and Candace and Erica, the lab techs at the Texas Oncology-Denison, for making us laugh and feel hopeful. We also want to thank Dr V. Bhushan and his wonderful PA, Katie Sellers at Medical City-Dallas, for their special care over the last 3 years. Last, but certainly not least, we would like to thank and praise Home Hospice of Grayson County and their fabulous staff—especially Jerry’s nurses, Stephanie and Marla, his chaplain, Diana, and his social worker, Renee—for their loving care and devotion.

And of course, many thanks and much love to all of our family and friends for being with us throughout this journey. God is good!

A memorial service to celebrate Jerry’s wonderful and full life will be held on Friday, January 19, 2024, at 11am at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 322 West Pecan Street, Sherman, Texas 75090. The service will be live streamed on the church's website - cpcsherman.org/live-streaming, on YouTube, and on Facebook - www.facebook.com/cpcsherman.

A reception will follow in Wharton Fellowship Hall, and a private family burial will be held at Friendship Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, one might consider memorials given in Jerry’s honor to Covenant Presbyterian Preschool (Playground Remodel) - cpcsherman.org/giving or Home Hospice of Grayson County - www.homehospice.org.

Gone fishing...