November 28, 1932 - October 9, 2018
Gerald Wayne McGuire was born in Porum, Oklahoma on November 28, 1932 to Fred and Frieda McGuire. He was the oldest of four brothers that included Wendell, Vernon, & Glenn. Contracting Polio as a baby left him with a characteristic droop on the right side of his face but did not limit him in life. Gerald spent his childhood in Porum and graduated from Porum High School in 1950, where he had actively participated in basketball, baseball, and track.
Moving to Wasco, CA in 1950 he later met and married the love of his life, Odessa Fields, on October 4, 1958. She preceded him in death in 2015 after nearly 57 years of marriage. A position at Bakersfield College brought him to Bakersfield where he lived since 1962. In October of 1970 he accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and never turned back from following Him.
Through his daughters Jana, Tammie, and son Mark, and through their respective marriages to Dan Webb, Tim Stormont, and Susan Nichol he became grandfather to Sarah, Jennifer, Kathleen, Adam, Joanna, Scott, Eric, Kristen, and Emily. From that generation he welcomed the husbands of his three oldest granddaughters, Tim Hudson, Lee Dierck, and Richard Kohler, who have grown the family by six great-grandchildren; Katy, Jake, Carter, Caleb, Kylee, and Makenna.
For the last thirty years he attended Canyon Hills Assembly of God where he took joy for many of those years serving as an usher. In his later years he dedicated himself to being a tireless prayer warrior for family, friends, and strangers around him. He became known as the "Candy Man" for his habit of handing out hard candies to those he met, often with a Bible Promise Book as well.
Gerald went to be with the Lord Jesus on October 9, 2018 when the Savior welcomed him into the hospitality of heaven after months of struggle with his deteriorating health.
The family wishes to thank Hoffman Hospice and the staff of Dean's Care Villa for their care during this final period in his life.
Services will be held at Hillcrest Memorial Park at 9101 Kern Canyon Road, Bakersfield, CA. Viewing will be on Tuesday, October 16, 2018 from 5-9 PM. Chapel service will be at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, October 17, 2018.
Published in Bakersfield Californian from Oct. 14 to Oct. 15, 2018
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