Jerry Lane Capps

Jerry Lane Capps, age 87, of Grand Prairie, TX passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Saturday, August 27, 2022. He was born on March 4, 1935 in Ravanna, Arkansas to Tillman and Addie Bell (Thomas) Capps. From a very early age, it was evident to those around him that he was a kind and loving man.

Jerry attended Greenville Senior High School where he held many leadership roles such as President of the History Club, English Class Parliamentarian, D.E. Club Sargent-at-Arms and a member of the track team. After graduation, Jerry served in the Navy Reserves. He then married his first wife and high school sweetheart, Leah Gay Covington, on March 17, 1953. They were married for 20 years and had 2 daughters together, Janet and Terri.

Jerry started his lucrative career in the furniture business and became a top sales rep for the Englander Mattress Company in Lubbock, Texas – where he met 2 of his lifelong friends, Jimmy Fondy and Bill Davidson, who were in the furniture business as well.

In less than a year, The Englander Mattress Company promoted Jerry to the Dallas Market. His territory grew from Dallas to the entire Midwest and Mexico. In 1967, he became a member of the Southwest Roadrunner Furniture Sales Organization. It was the who’s who of the furniture industry.

Jerry later joined a group of his buddies in the furniture business and became a member of a golf organization in El Paso, Texas. One of his favorite pastimes was traveling the world to play golf on some of the most elite courses.

Jerry secured yet another promotion to run the Englander Mattress Company plant in San Francisco, California. After a couple of years of living in California, Jerry decided to buy his very own Englander Mattress Company store in Dallas. He quickly branched out and opened his own furniture store as well.

In 1987, his sister, Faye Marlow, introduced Jerry to the love of his life, Pat Watson. A year later, they married on September 10, 1988. Both Jerry and Pat shared the love of fishing. Jerry purchased a weekend lake house on Cedar Creek Lake near John and Linda McNeff, who later became their partners in the Cedar Creek Lake Land Condominiums. Many of their friends joined them.

Jerry had a passion for auctions, car deals, bear hugs and Amazon ordering to name a few. He will be dearly missed by all whose paths he has graced. Shelby, Jerry’s granddaughter, said it best, “no matter how much of a mess we got into, he was always there to pick us up and give us hell along the way.”

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Tillman Osborn Capps and Addie Belle Thomas; daughter Janet Michelle Capps and brother Norman Capps.

Jerry is survived by his loving wife of 33 years, Pat Watson-Capps; daughter Terri Capps; grandchildren Adam Shaw (spouse Azia), Shelbie Leah Parsons (spouse Alisha), Sarah Shaw, J.R. Podany, Josh Podany, Hunter Sutterfield, Fisher Sutterfield (spouse Maria), Wyatt Walker (spouse Gracie); great grandchildren Maverick Shaw, Hallie Podany, Dawson Podany and Ellie Sutterfield.

Stepdaughters Kay Lynn Connelly (spouse Rick), Kristi Lee Sutterfield; Lauren Watson; Kelley Walker (spouse Warren), 6 step grandchildren; 3 step great grandchildren; sister Faye Marlow (spouse Bob), and sister-in-law Mary Joe Capps.

Jerry’s memorial service will be held at 10:00 am on September 6, 2022 at Bean-Massey-Burge Funeral Home, 2951 S. Belt Line Road, Grand Prairie, TX 75052. The committal service will follow at 11:30 am at Grand Prairie Memorial Gardens, 3001 S. Belt Line Road, Grand Prairie, TX 75052. The family will hold a luncheon at 12:00 pm at the Uptown Theater, 120 E. Main Street, Grand Prairie, TX 75050.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Jerry’s honor to Lifeline for Families, Inc. (www.lifelineforfamilies.org).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.beanmasseyburge.com for the Capps family.