Jerry McCallie
Frances Geraldine McGee McCallie, who was known as Jerry, was born on April 14, 1935 in Borger, Texas, to Alvin Hawthorne McGee and Frances Opal Stephenson McGee.
Jerry married Bill McCallie and together they raised three children and started a successful business, Bill’s Oilfield Service, in Perryton, Texas. In 1981, Bill and Jerry moved to Mena, Arkansas, where they purchased a farm and lived and worked for over thirty years, and retired to Heber Springs, Arkansas, in 2017.
Jerry was a member of the First Baptist Church in Perryton and the Yocanna Baptist Church in Mena, where she served as the bookkeeper and also put her organizational skills to work handling numerous affairs for the church. Jerry’s faith was important to her and her contribution to her congregation was substantial. Jerry also enjoyed sewing, crafting, painting, gardening, canning, cooking and baking.
Jerry was smart and detail-oriented, and she thrived both in and out of the home. The various ventures Bill and Jerry grew throughout their marriage exhibited a true partnership between two people who knew the value of hard work and cooperation. The life they built together over their 68 years of marriage will always be an inspiration and example to their family.
Bill and Jerry have always been dedicated animal lovers, not only of the dogs and cats they treated as members of their family but of the cows, goats, pigs, horses, guineas and countless other animals that lived on the farm throughout the years. Any animal that came into Jerry’s life was a lucky one, because it would not only be fed and sheltered but also named, nursed and deeply loved.
Above all, Jerry’s life was defined by her devotion as a daughter, sister, wife, mother, and Nana. The legacy she leaves behind simply cannot be conveyed in words but those that loved her will always be better because she was a part of their lives, and her memory will always be with them.
Jerry is survived by her husband Bill McCallie of Heber Springs, Arkansas; son Billy McCallie and wife Missy of Perryton, Texas; daughter Jan Dear and husband Rusty of Heber Springs, Arkansas; sister Pat Hickman and husband Bill of Amarillo, Texas; brother Billy Johnson and wife Lyla of Sherman, Texas; and her six grandchildren and eight great grandchildren: Crystal Cameron and husband Bonner of Bryant, Arkansas, and their daughter Harley; Jessica Symons and husband Phil of Perryton, Texas, and their children Layla, Stetson and Stella; Robin McCallie of Seattle, Washington, and her son Zakk; Judson Dear and wife Kerry of Alexander, Arkansas; Jacki Thompson and husband Mark of Canyon, Texas, and their children Hadee, Track and Marlee; and Austin McCallie of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Jerry is reunited with her parents, her brother, Gerald Johnson, and her son, Clint McCallie.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Yocanna Baptist Church, P.O. Box 876, Mena, Arkansas 72193.
Funeral services will be 2:00 pm, Friday, April 16, 2021 at Bowser Family Funeral Service in Mena, Arkansas with visitation one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in Pine Crest Gardens in Mena, Arkansas. Brother Lynn Chiles and Brother Frank Gibson will be officiating.
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