October 12, 1932 – January 30, 2012 In Loving Memory.
Spanish Fort, AL

Gerald Ray (Jerry) Irons passed from this life to spend eternity with our almighty Father on January 30, 2012. He was born to George and Lenice Irons on October 12, 1932, on a 200 acre farm in the rolling hills and fertile fields between Excelsior Springs and Richmond, Missouri.

Jerry grew up working the farm with his dad and two older brothers, Gordon and D.A. (deceased), riding horses like his favorite cowboy heroes and getting into the occasional mischief farm boys are accustomed to. He was baptized in Caney Creek near Rock Falls Baptist Church, just down the road a piece from home. Jerry played football for and graduated from Excelsior Springs High School, where he was a star quarterback and was inducted into the school’s Sports Hall Of Fame in 2010.

On June 28, 1952 he married Opal Marie Brentlinger and started their life together in a small house in the suburbs of Kansas City, MO, where he began his career as a welder at Shippers CarLine. Overtime he would rise through the ranks to plant superintendent. Jerry could fix anything. He always had a knack for understanding the mechanics of how things work, a trait he was unable to pass on to his son.

If Jerry could be summed up in one word it would be he was a man. Not an infallible man. Not perfect. But a man nonetheless you could trust to keep his word, count on his help and get the job done. He was a 20th century man with 20th century values that he inherited from his father and his father’s father, back in those rolling hills of western Missouri. His name was Jerry Irons. And he was a good man.

Jerry leaves behind his wife of nearly 60 years, Opal, their three children, Ron, Pam and Dana, brother, Gordon, eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. But most of all he leaves an empty space in our lives that we can only fill with our own personal memories of his time with us in hopes it will assuage our grief until we meet again.

Memorial services will be held at 3 pm Friday, February 3, 2012 at Jubilee Baptist Church with Dr. Paul Matthews officiating. The family will receive friends beginning at 1 pm at the church. The family will accept flowers or memorials may be made to Jubilee Baptist Church, 9264 Pleasant Road, Daphne, AL 36526. Condolences may be made at hughesfh.com.

Funeral arrangements are by Hughes Funeral Home of Daphne, AL.