Jerry Lynn Smith

Jerry Lynn Smith, son of Mildred “Micky” (Clegg) Smith and the late John W. Smith was born December 24, 1946 in Clinton, Missouri and departed this life suddenly on November 11, 2008 at 61 years of age.
Jerry grew up in Clinton and graduated high school there in 1964. He had been captain of the football team and set a track record that stands to this day. After high school, Jerry went to Wichita Business College and graduated with a Data Processing degree. He spent two years at SBU in Bolivar, Missouri and then graduated from SMU in Springfield, Missouri in 1971 with a Business Marketing degree. From 1966 – 1972, Jerry served his country in the Army Air National Guard.
On February 10, 1967, Jerry married Sandra Kay Plummer and two sons, Scott and Chris, were born to this union. Jerry and Sandy also opened their home to five foster girls, Linda, Kathy, Susie, Joyce, and Nina. Joyce and Linda stayed and became part of their family. Jerry and Sandy lived in Belton, Missouri, Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Olathe, Kansas before moving to the family farm south of Mountain Grove. They had spent the last four years living in their dream home that borders the Willow Springs Memorial Airport.
Jerry didn’t waste a moment of his life. He enjoyed a variety of activities like snow skiing, scuba diving, archery, bicycling, and hunting and fishing. He was of the Baptist faith and instilled Christian values in his children. Jerry was a hard worker and set high standards for himself. He worked as a computer programmer, then went into sales with automotive distributors and with King Radio. After that, Jerry began his fifteen year career in thunderstorm research working for 3M, Ryan Storm Scope, and BF Goodrich. In 1994, Jerry went back into sales and was working for Garmin International at the time of his passing.
Everyone who knew Jerry knew his absolute passion was flying. At age sixteen, he soloed and received his driver’s license on the same day. Jerry was a pilot for 46 years and logged over 25,000 hours of flight time. He became a flight instructor in 1972 and brought the love of flying to many people’s lives, beginning with his mother. He was also an instrument flight instructor, a multi-engine instructor, he had his sea plane rating, and he was an aerobatic pilot. Jerry always challenged his students, pushing them to their limits to bring out their best. Jerry never knew a stranger and wanted to share his joy of flying with everyone. If he knew you wanted to fly, he would see that you had the opportunity. His vast knowledge and experience of flying made him an irreplaceable mentor to the entire aviation community.
The only thing that could top flying for Jerry would be his family. He was an awesome Papa to the younger grandchildren and Grampi to the older ones. It was important to Jerry to be at his children’s and grandchildren’s games and activities.He was a big kid and thoroughly loved playing with his children and grandchildren.
Jerry was preceded in death by one son: Chris Smith; his father: John Smith, and his father-in-law: Bill Plummer.
He is survived by his loving wife of their home, Sandy; his mother and step-father: Micky and Floyd “Pink” Pinkston; his mother-in-law: Pauline Plummer; one son: Scott and his wife, Kristy, of Olathe, Kansas; two daughters: Joyce Lemon and her husband, Chris, of Phoenix, Arizona, and Linda Santo and her husband, Frans, of Jakarta, Indonesia; one brother: Larry D. Smith and his wife, Karen, of Friendswood, Texas; five grandchildren: Nicky, Edmond, William, Brook, and Kris; and many more family, friends, and fellow aviators that will greatly miss him.


Funeral Services:
Saturday, November 15, 2008 at 2:00 PM in the First Freewill Baptist Church, Mtn. Grove.
Visitation:
Friday, November 14, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM in the funeral home chapel.

Burial:
Hillcrest Cemetery
Memorial Contributions:
EAA Chapter 1218 of Willow Springs, MO or Pineview Christian Home in Summersville, MO, c/o the funeral home.