JERRY LEE COLEMAN

 Jerry Lee Coleman, 86, husband of the late Elizabeth “Betty” Jane DeClerk Coleman, died on Saturday, September 20, 2025 in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. Born January 12, 1939, in the Sharum Community of Randolph County, Arkansas, he was the son of the late Granville Carl and Nellie Augusta James Coleman. Jerry attended Pocahontas High School in Arkansas, and upon graduating in 1957, he joined the U.S. Army where he served in the 82nd Airborne. He continued to serve his country in the Reserves until the mid-eighties. Jerry graduated from Southwest Missouri State University in 1978. Afterwards he enjoyed a long career with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. He worked in multiple positions and offices throughout Missouri and Kentucky, including serving as District Conservationist in Mercer County and Boyle County field offices from 1983 to 1997. He retired as Russell County District Conservationist in 2004 after 41 years of service with the USDA NRCS. Jerry was a member of St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, and a 4th Degree member and a past District Deputy in the Knights of Columbus. He was an avid gardener and loved being outdoors in nature. He also loved volunteering in the community, especially serving the less fortunate and children’s services. In his younger years, he served as a Scout Master for the Boy Scouts of America. Jerry and Betty both were active members of the Friends of Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery in Jamestown, KY, with Jerry serving as President in the year 2007. He also served as a volunteer with the Russell County Rescue Squad. He was honored as a Kentucky Colonel. Jerry is survived by four sons, Michael Coleman of Harrodsburg, Daniel (Carol) Coleman of Marshfield, Missouri, Charles (Christine) Coleman of Cincinnati, Ohio, and David (Lisa) Coleman of Harrodsburg, and three daughters, Georgia (Stuart) Grooms of Kansas City, Missouri, Susan (Mark) Willmott of Harrodsburg, and Rose (Brian) Love of Dundonald, Scotland; twenty grandchildren, Kevin (Lorena) Grooms, Eric Grooms, Gabrielle (Ryan) Cobb, Gregory Coleman, Joshua (Savanna) Coleman, Rebecca (Michael) Hayes, Aaron and Hope Coleman, Mary, William, Anna, Catherine, Joseph, Caroline, and Georgia Coleman, Grant Willmott, Loren Willmott (Devin) Carpenter, Jacob (McKenzie) Coleman, Luke (Maggie) Coleman, and Eden Love; and five great-grandchildren, Sam and Alice Cobb, Charlotte Coleman, Arthur Hayes, and Ruby on the way! In addition to his parents and his wife, Jerry is preceded in death by a sister, Geraldine C. Naumann, her husband, Donald Naumann, and a brother, James. The Funeral Service will be a Catholic Mass held at St. Andrew Catholic Church at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 27, 2025 with Rev. Father Edwin Netlas officiating. Pall Bearers: Grant Willmott, Jacob Coleman, Luke Coleman, William Coleman, Joe Coleman, and Joshua Coleman and honorary pallbearers will be: Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren. Visitation will be after 9:00 a.m. on Saturday at the church. Alexander & Royalty Funeral Home and Cremation Services are in charge of arrangements. To share your memories or to leave a message for the family, please visit www.alexanderandroyalty.com.