Gerald Venable

Gerald Fenton "Jerry" Venable, 89, of Jackson passed away Monday, March 13, 2017, at Jackson Manor Nursing Home.

He was born Nov. 26, 1927, son of Fenton Lum and Lucile Margaret Medley Venable in the home of Francis "Frank" Newton and Emaline "Lina" Shorter Medley in Jackson. He and Susan Jane LaPierre were married May 30, 1952, at MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Illinois.

Jerry was a 1946 graduate of Jackson High School and enjoyed reminding folks he performed on the clarinet in the high-school concert band since the age of 12 under the tutelage of director LeRoy Mason. After graduation from high school, he attended Southeast Missouri Teachers College in Cape Girardeau.

As a senior in high school, he drove a school bus for Immaculate Conception Catholic School, then later worked for the Jackson Hosiery Mill and LaPierre-Sawyer Handle Factory, was a salesman for Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., was the transportation supervisor for the Jackson School District and retired from Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Southeast Missouri on Aug. 3, 1991. Following retirement, he worked part-time as a merchandiser for Procter & Gamble.

Jerry was a charter member and was elected the first president of the Jackson Junior Chamber of Commerce in 1958. He took pride in the fact the Jackson chapter received state and national awards for "Outstanding New Chapter" while also being awarded Most Outstanding Junior Chamber of Commerce in Missouri. The organization, renamed the Jackson Jaycees, selected him Outstanding Young Man of the Year in 1961. The following year, he received the Outstanding National Director for Missouri, representing the Jackson Jaycees.

Jerry was a charter member of the National Guard in Jackson, Company E, 140th Infantry Missouri National Guard 35th Infantry Division. He attained the rank of master sergeant.

When the Jackson Optimist clubs started programs of Little League Baseball, boys basketball and flag football, he was one of the early coaches for all three programs.

Jerry was also a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Jackson, Knights of Columbus 6405 and the Jackson Elks Club.

Survivors include his loving wife of 64 years, Susan Venable; their five children, Daryl Fenton Venable of Indianapolis, Eric Guild (Martha) Venable of Jackson, Stuart Wayne (Bobbie) Venable of Springfield, Missouri, Linda Susan (Stephen VanAmburg) Venable of Jackson and Steven Mark (Cheryl) Venable of Marietta, Georgia; six grandchildren, Marisa Denise (Chris) Meyer, Jessica Sue (Darin) Teague, Isaac Guild (Amber) Venable, Jeb Stuart (Laura) Venable, Major Sherman Fenton Venable and Nathan Christian Venable; and three great-grandchildren, Tucker Wayne Teague, Carter Raymond Teague and Scout Avabelle Venable.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson, with parish prayer service at 7 p.m.

A funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Jackson, with the Rev. John Harth officiating. Interment will be in Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson.

Memorial Contributions may be made to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.