Jerry E. Aiken

Jerry E. Aiken, 78, passed peacefully on October 1st surrounded by his loving wife of 47 years Stella, and daughters Kelly Walker and Penni Pierce. Jerry was born in Greeneville, TN, moving with his family to Cocoa at the age of 14. He is preceded in death by his parents Mildred and Frank Aiken, brother Tommy Aiken, and sister Joy Trevorah.

Jerry will be greatly missed by his sister Ann Morgan, brother Frank Aiken Jr., sons-in-law Kevin Walker and Mitch Pierce, as well as a multitude of extended family and friends. He has three grandchildren: Kevin Aiken, Megan Trude, and Erica Knight, and has also been blessed with four great-grandchildren: Delilah, Eli, Kimber, and Sully.

In his younger years, Jerry enjoyed stockcar racing with his best friend Bud Dittoe, attended professional wrestling matches and spent many a weekend outdoors camping, fishing, and target practicing. He taught his daughters to shoot guns and drive a truck out in the woods in Cocoa near his home. Jerry also loved traveling with Stella in their RV, taking trips with the grandkids to Niagara Falls and the Statue of Liberty, and visiting family and close friends; and especially liked traveling with his best friend Bud and his wife Lou as they were RV travelers also.

As a young adult, Jerry began his career in the newspaper industry working for the Cocoa Tribune. He owned and operated Music City in Cocoa and worked for a short while at a newspaper in Savannah, Georgia before settling his career with USA Today in Brevard County, Florida, where he advanced to the position of Press Supervisor.

Stella, Kelly, and Penni want to extend their heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has sent words of healing and love for Jerry, lifting his name in prayer.