Jerry D. Hayhurst was a man for whom actions would speak louder than words. The qualities of being fair, just and the ability to recognize what was right were clearly driving forces in Jerry’s life. He was also the kind of person who could respect a “do not disturb” sign, whether it was real or implied. He was analytical and observant, with an ability to be simultaneously spontaneous and keenly perceptive. Jerry was modest in his actions and extremely literal in his thoughts and in the manner in which he communicated with others. When Jerry said something, he meant it. All those who knew him appreciated this trademark quality.
Jerry was born on October 20, 1952 at Roosevelt General Hospital in Portales, New Mexico. His parents were Joe and Nelda Hayhurst. Jerry was raised in Portales, New Mexico. Even as a small child, Jerry wanted to understand what was right and what was wrong in any given situation. As Jerry grew older, he realized the importance of being treated fairly, and in return, he treated everyone around him the same way. This belief in fair play served Jerry well throughout his life and despite his natural shyness; he enjoyed a solid group of friends.
Jerry had twin sisters, Carol Neill and Sherol Fritts. Jerry was very close with his sisters. They had the typical rivalries while growing up, but they shared many life experiences and cared deeply for each other.
During his childhood, family and friends viewed Jerry as a quiet and reserved person with what most would consider a calm and tranquil demeanor. In fact, he was a fairly curious child who had the ability to entertain himself and didn’t require much in the way of outside stimulation. A great deal of Jerry’s free time was spent learning how and why the things around him worked. He was an active child who loved being outdoors and absorbing all the sensory input that nature could provide. He took part in baseball and basketball. Jerry participated in the Cub Scouts, Little League Baseball and Junior High Basketball. In his spare time he liked hunting, chess and collecting record albums. One of Jerry's most memorable achievements was becoming an Eagle Scout.
The fact that he was curious was an asset to Jerry while he was in school. He possessed strong study skills and good concentration. He relished the task of scrutinizing problems, investigating all of the options and then solving them. Jerry enjoyed tackling the project that was right in front of him and working it straight through to its conclusion. Experience was Jerry’s best teacher. He graduated from Portales High School in 1970. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. His favorite class in high school was Math. The teacher he enjoyed learning from the most was Frank Burke.
The same qualities that served as assets for Jerry while he was in high school were tools that built success in his college years. His ability to work through problems and assignments without wasting time and energy demonstrated to his instructors that he possessed a real “stick to it” attitude that allowed him to succeed. Jerry was an analytical and an independent thinker, qualities that allowed him to develop and implement effective strategies and techniques to meet his college workload. He earned degrees in Math and Biology. He also pursued graduate school, earning a degree in Electronics. His favorite course was chemistry and his favorite professors were Dr. Warren Neill and Dr. J. E. Sublette. Jerry was proud to be part of the Honor Society with a 4.0 Grade Point Average.
Those who didn’t know Jerry well might have thought him to be objective and somewhat emotionally detached, but family and friends who were close to him knew that he was capable of unexpected flashes of humor. Jerry’s good friends tended to be “thinkers” like himself. Even though the circle of friends was somewhat small, it was a strong and loyal group. Jerry was well known for always being up front and open, never hiding his true feelings, qualities that drew deep loyalty from his friends because they understood and appreciated him for the person he was. Another quality that people admired in Jerry was his ability to link cause and effect and apply the appropriate connection in his assessment of any new situation. While growing up, some of his best friends were Rick O'Neal, Micky Morgan, Tommy Morgan, Tommy Webb, David Turner and Terry Dark. Later in life, he became friends with Kelly and Sue Kaercher, Dan Hayman, Allen Peacock and Vince Fox.
This same loyalty and up front honesty Jerry shared with his friends carried over to other aspects of his life, including his relationships with his family. On February 19th, 1999, Jerry exchanged wedding vows with Janice L. Robinson at the El Paso County Courthouse of Colorado Springs, Colorado. The marriage became a solid relationship, due in part to Jerry’s skill at bringing fresh energy and clarity to meeting Janice's needs. He was a great listener who enjoyed the couple’s “together” time, especially when it came to celebrating special occasions.
As the family grew, Jerry was easily able to adapt to the changes and challenges of parenthood. Jerry was blessed with five children. His family included his daughters, Elizabeth, Katherine and Lauren and his two sons, Ed and Christopher. They were also blessed with five grandchildren, Matthew Jeremy, Sandra, Cody and Steven. Jerry was never impulsive in dealing with family problems. Instead, he would carefully think things through before implementing the solution in a logical and objective manner. Jerry was a strong, clear communicator who excelled at eliminating confusion by making matters crystal clear to all those involved. At the same time, Jerry’s inventive nature could turn some of the boring old household chores into a fun activity for the family.
In his work life, Jerry was the kind of person who had no difficulty in taking on a project and seeing it through to its completion. He excelled at dealing with those pesky details that can derail some people, and once he understood exactly why he was working on a project, he could plow full steam ahead. For Jerry, being able to grasp the logical components of any task was significant to him in appreciating its importance. Even if he worked alone on an assignment, Jerry was able to incorporate and welcome new insights from co-workers, and he would readily use them if they improved the process. His primary occupation was in Quality Control. He was employed for Honeywell/Atmel for twenty two years and at the Scotts Corporation for nearly five years. Jerry always made the effort to be a team player, doing what was necessary in order to get the job done.
Jerry’s curious and inquisitive nature influenced his choice of leisure pursuits as well. He applied his strong concentration and analytical skills as to how things worked to his choice of activities. He particularly enjoyed the “alone” time his hobbies provided. His favorite pursuits were Amateur Radio (FCC Licensed), Stained Glass, Antique Lure Collecting, Motorcycle Riding, Pez Collecting and Astronomy. Jerry was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was enjoyed sharing them with others.
Jerry had the ability to stay calm and the determination to do what was necessary to get the job finished, traits that helped him enjoy sports. In high school and college Jerry played Basketball with his friends. Recreational sports included playing Golf. Jerry was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed following his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity.
Jerry appreciated the occasions when he was able to travel and get away on a vacation. He enjoyed learning about different locales and was open to exploring new and different places. Favorite vacations included any and all of the vacations he took with his family and the motorcycle runs he would go on. He thoroughly enjoyed the task of gathering and analyzing travel information as he prepared to take an upcoming trip whether they were planned or spur of the moment.
Jerry passed away on May 5, 2010 at Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Jerry passed away after suffering injuries caused by a tragic motorcycle accident. He is survived by his wife, Janice; his children Elizabeth, Katherine, Lauren, Ed and Christopher; his grandchildren Matthew, Jeremy, Sandra, Cody and Steven; his parents Joe and Nelda; and his sisters Carol and Sherol. Services were held at Memorial Gardens. Jerry will live forever in all our hearts and lives.
Jerry strongly believed that talk is cheap. He was the type of person who would show others his feelings through his actions. He was practical and realistic but was able to be flexible when the need arose. He had a curiosity about the things around him and tried to experience life directly rather than sit back and talk about it. The experiences he treasured most were those he shared with his loved ones. Jerry D. Hayhurst will be greatly missed.
Obituary
Jerry D. Hayhurst
Oct. 20, 1952 – May 5, 2010
Jerry D. Hayhurst passed away on May 5th, 2010 at Memorial Hospital surrounded by his loving family. Jerry was born on October 20th, 1952 in Portales, New Mexico.
A Memorial Service will be held on May 21st, 2010 at 12:30pm at Memorial Gardens Funeral Home Chapel. Please join the family for a reception to Celebrate Jerry's life following the service at The Landing Bar & Grill in the Satellite Hotel at 2:00pm on May 21st.
If you would like rather than sending flowers you may make contributions to the Pikes Peak Humane Society.
For further information please visit www.memorialgardensfuneralhome.com.
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