Jerry Thomason Jr.

ORAN, Mo. -- A soldier has fallen. Jerry Dale Thomason Jr. scared the living daylights out of someone for the last time Saturday, April 27, 2019. As the sun was rising on a beautiful spring day, Jerry was rising to the heavens to be gathered into God's loving embrace. He passed away in the loving arms of his wife at his home in Oran.

Jerry was born March 15, 1962, in Anchorage, Alaska, as the first son and third child to his loving parents, the late Jerry Dale Thomason Sr. and Lola Miller Thomason of Chaffee, Missouri, who survives him. Jerry was blessed and cursed to grow up with two older sisters and a younger brother, who also survive him, Carla (Tim) Daniels of Raleigh, North Carolina, Anita Thomason of Chaffee and Jeff (Kathy) Thomason of Chaffee. He was sure happy when his little brother, Jeff, was born, and his sisters had someone else to boss around and play mother hen to.

On June 27, 1998, Jerry married the love of his life, Mary Ann Taylor of Oran, and two families became one. Their beloved children/spouses include Miranda (Jason) Kilburn of Chaffee, Brandi (Aris) Hines of Killeen, Texas, Stephen (Tina) Sauceda of Seneca, South Carolina, J.D. (Jeannette) Thomason of Lawton, Oklahoma, Dackery (Heidi) Thomason of Lawton and Jermey (Georgia) Thomason of Belton, Texas. They have 21 grandchildren who have overflowed their hearts with love and joy.

Jerry had another family as well -- the U.S. Army. As a beloved son, born into a family with strong military ties and hearts drawn to serve, it seemed only natural that at the age of 17, Jerry quit school, got his GED and followed into his beloved father's footsteps and joined the Army. His dad was his hero. He served 20 years in the Special Forces and to Jerry, he was a god. Jerry proudly served his country for almost 36 years before being forced to take a medical retirement. During his time in the service, he met and worked with a lot of good people and, according to Jerry, a "bunch of idiots."

Jerry had many jobs over the years, including heavy-equipment operator at Strack Stone. His favorite was his job to country. He took great pride in serving his country with honor. He loved to yell at his troops for having their hands in their pockets. "Yes, it WILL kill you."

Jerry was able to see and make friends from all over the world. He loved his fellow brothers and sisters deeply. He loved, worked and breathed the military. His loyalty, service and sacrifice is a testament to the man he was. His kind and generous heart could never allow him to pass up someone he thought needed help. Whether it was someone stuck in a ditch who needed to be pulled out, a kid selling something for school or someone needing a good cold beer to drink, Jerry was there.

Jerry will be joining his loved ones who have gone on before him, and since he was the one who always brought the beer to any social function, they will be happy to see him. Among his loved ones, he will be also meeting up with his dad, Jerry Dale Thomason Sr., and will be holding his grandson, Amaris Hines, son of Brandi and Aris, for the first time.

This is the part where most people talk about how "well liked" a person was. Truth is, a lot of people didn't like Jerry. He was known for "calling it like he sees it." He was "too much" for some people. He was sometimes "too loud," "too demanding" or "too drunk," etc. His family doesn't care what those people think and neither did he.

Jerry loved to laugh, pull pranks (and pull tabs) and scare the heck out of people, especially bartenders and nurses. He loved to be the center of attention and loved to drink beer. He loved spending time with his wife, sitting on the porch with a cold beer watching Tilly, his beloved dog, and his grandkids play. He also loved the Fourth of July, shooting off fireworks, floating down a river, teaching the grandkids to shoot guns, build fires and, more often than not, teaching them the best ways to get into trouble with their parents. He will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him.

Jerry was a fighter. As far as is known, he never lost a fight. And just for the record, he didn't lose his fight to cancer. The cancer died when he did, so technically it was a tie.

Jerry's final wishes will not be carried out. His loving wife, with whom he could never win an argument, insists he not be "propped up beside the jukebox, with a cold one in his hand," and that a traditional and dignified service with full military honors be carried out. They are as follows.

Friends may call after 5 p.m. today at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee.

Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks you make a donation to the Miller Brewing Co., "as stock prices are expected to decline," or to Cape Girardeau Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3838, where he was a lifetime member. They are expected to suffer great financial hardship as well.

Online condolences may be shared at www.amick-burnettfuneralchapels.com.