Jerry was born December 17, 1939, in Dayton, Tennessee to Gerald L. Shofner, Sr and Maude Mae Shofner.
Jerry was passionate about many things, including playing trombone in high school, at Tennessee Tech, and in the church orchestra for many years. He also enjoyed officiating high school football for 20+ years. He joined the US Army to serve his country in 1962 shortly after he and Nadine were married. After his military service he worked for the FBI in Washington, DC where he led tours of the FBI building when J. Edgar Hoover was the Director. He then returned to his hometown in Dayton, TN where he was personnel manager for Oster Corporation. He retired from working many years for the United States Postal Service in Red Bank, TN in 2001. He was an active member of Red Bank Baptist Church and loved attending and being involved in many activities there when he was able.
He is preceded in death by his parents and two sisters Geraldine Langley and Marie Bailey.
Survivors include Jerry's wife Nadine Rigsby Shofner and 3 children, Penny Shofner Frizzell (Lamar) of Hollywood, MD; Dale A. Shofner (Jennifer Shepherd) of Hixson and Nathan M. Shofner (Amy Fergerson) of Soddy Daisy; sister Glena Esty Sikes (Jim) of Hohenwald, TN. He is also survived by 6 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.
Jerry loved Jesus and sharing his testimony with others. He loved reading and studying God's Word. He had many favorite Scriptures one of which was Psalm 23:6 “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
He loved his family and spent many meaningful vacations with his wife and children. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. We are truly blessed and grateful to have experienced God's presence in many ways through the many friends who have been the hands and feet of Jesus to us.
The family will receive friends from 5-7 pm on Thursday, November 14 at Chattanooga Funeral Home North Chapel off Hwy. 153. Funeral service will be at the chapel on Friday November 15 at 12:00, burial to be at the Chattanooga National Cemetery at 1:30. Pastor Sam Greer and Bill Harvey of Red Bank Baptist Church will be officiating the service.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hearth Hospice, Chattanooga, who provided care for Jerry in his last days as he battled lymphoma cancer.
