Part 2 (continued)….
By this time I think their adrenaline is slowing down because Jerry’s fist aren’t clinched and John T.’s beginning to shake. Although, Jerry is still repeatedly requesting for John to come back over here and say that. 😂😂😂 
As John got out of the water and stumbled up the bank he had an uncanny resemblance of a wet rat. Everything on him was pour water. Jerry walked back over to the fish cleaning board and apologized to me for having to see that. I said “Are you kidding?? That was awesome!!! I thought you were gonna body slam him.” 😂😂 We both started laughing and Jerry said “I don’t really remember picking him up. I just remember throwing him in the water.” Then he said “I’m gonna get in trouble for this one”. “By who?” I asked.  “Bill” Jerry said. He may ask me to leave Mountain Harbor. Well… that didn’t happen. Bill did have a sit down with Jerry and John a few days later and a peace treaty was agreed upon.😂😂
I always joked with Jerry that if the fishing thing didn’t work out he could fall back on wresting!😂

Happy Homecoming Day Jerry!! We sure do miss you down here.
I think I’m going to use your heavenly homecoming anniversary as a way to share those stories, so that your memory lives on and maybe these stories will bring smiles and fond memories of a great man. 
I arrived at G dock very early one morning. 5 minutes later Jerry showed up and we got on the boat and idled out underneath the bridge headed for the gar hole. Jerry noticed boat lights off in the distance that looked like they were headed for the same place. I didn’t think much of it. However, when we pulled up that boat was in the process of hooking up with a good size striper. I noticed Jerry’s jaw got tight, and he got real quiet… And he said I know that guy! He’s a striper guide that has a bad habit of fishing where other guides find and catch fish. He doesn’t know how to find his own fish Jerry said. Then Jerry said…I guess I’ll have another talk with him about this later. 
We fished in the same area for a little while and then we left to go try other spots. Thankfully, we caught our limit and it was a great morning. So we were back at the dock, cleaning our fish when John T. Hall (the other guide) walks up with his customers to clean their fish. Jerry and John made some sharp comments back-and-forth but nothing that was out of line in front of customers. Once the customers left, Jerry called John T out on what he did this morning and things turned south pretty quick. John T said the wrong things and smarted off to Jerry… And in the blink of an eye Jerry reached down, grabbed John T in a body press maneuver and threw him in the water. It was HILARIOUS!! John T was screaming and trying not to drown all while threatening Jerry. Now Jerry is walking around the docks and on the bank(which ever one John swims towards) waiting on John to get out somewhere so he can throw him back in I guess.😂 Finally John is standing in waist deep water and the threats have turned into peace treaty terms! To be continued……

Time sure flies when you are having fun. I bet it’s the same way up there. When I think back on the 3 years you have been gone, I can’t help but sit in awe of how long ago our good times and memories started. It would have been 33 years ago this past spring that we met. I sure think about our good times often. Of course… there isn’t a single trip to Hot Springs that doesn’t cause a flood of memories that turns into endless stories to those willing to listen…again! Lol. Man the stories!! That was always the best part of our trips. Not that I didn’t like catching stripes. But the stories were a guaranteed thing! Unlike those finicky fish.
 I tell people all the time… as long as we remember the person… their memory helps fill the hole. Until we meet again old friend…

It’s hard to believe that you’ve been gone a year now. I came to Hot Springs in June and fished Ouachita but it just felt so different. There is a huge hole left at Mountain Harbor that will never be filled. I stopped in the marina, drove by G dock, idled under the bridge, went to the gar hole, the trout pens, down to Shang-ri-la, back up by the vista, and I relived sooo many great times and wonderful memories. I’m sorry that you are gone but I’m super thankful for all the stories, fun times, mentoring, and the friendship!! I hope your one year heavenly anniversary was awesome old friend. Until we meet again.....

Jerry will be missed by so many. His smile was contagious and he always had a huge hug ready. We always enjoyed him coming by for a visit.  Everyone at the shop will miss him dearly. Our thoughts and prayers are will you all. —Danny and Dana Gwinn

I have so many fond memories of time spent on the lake with Jerry over the last thirty some odd years.Both of my daughters cherished time on the water with him as well.Jerry was especially kind and considerate to my youngest daughter Kathleen who was always anticipating going on the next"Jerry Bean trip" .In recent years Jerry showed great character in facing the challenges of his medical situation but still maintaining his joyful attitude towards life in general as well as his friends and customers

Jerry was such a joy to go fishing with. I enjoyed his endless love and knowledge of all the nature around Lake Ouachita, not to mention the fish. He guided me to catch the biggest striper I have ever seen. And we had to finish reeling it in on a broken pole.! Now it is on our wall. Thank you Jerry for so many great memories of you.


Jerry had a smile that was contagious! He loved his daughter and Grandson so much! No matter how bad he felt, he still always had such a beautiful smile. I will miss him.I am so sorry for your loss Darla. Your Father was a Mans Man.


Jerry used to love to race and we all had so much fun watching him and my brother, Junior.   He was a great man and a great friend. 

Darla,

My heart breaks for you and your family during this time.  My thoughts and prayers are with you, sweet friend.

Love,
Julie-Belle LaRue

I was one of many caregivers that took care of Mr. Bean at Ouachita Dialysis. Most of the time no matter how he felt, he would come in with a contagious smile,  especially when talking about his daughter and grandson. He showed us many pictures of them all fishing. He was a sweet man and will be missed by all. 

 I first met Jerry in February 1989. I was 13 years old. My dad, my uncle, a cousin, and myself hired Jerry for a full day of fishing. This was my first guided trip and I was so excited to go. I even brought along a Sports Afield magazine that had an article about Jerry and all the monster fish he caught. When we met him that morning I had my magazine ready and I asked him for his autograph. He grinned from ear to ear and started laughing but he was kind enough to oblige me. 
At the end of the day... we were hooked on striper fishing! That was the beginning of a tradition for us, our yearly fishing trip to Mountain Harbor! Over then next 3 decades we quit fishing with “a guide” and we started fishing with our friend... Jerry Bean. The misadventures we shared are to plentiful to list but I could fill an afternoon with Jerry stories and still not get done.  Once his brother Don came up from LA and fished with us. Don and my dad hit it off so good ... for the next two or three trips we planned it so that Don could join us. Jerry later told us how thankful he was. He said that it really meant a lot to see Don so happy and relaxed. 
As the years went by I ended up continuing the trips alone until I met my wife. I never will forget the first time I took her to fish with Jerry.  He was his usually jolly, happy go lucky self but I noticed some odd questions and comments throughout the day. Wouldn’t you know it, Jerry had been ever so slightly “screening” my girlfriend (now my wife) for his stamp of approval... Lol.  Well... she got it. He told me at the end of the day that I should hang on to her, so I did. Her and I returned several more times to the Hot Springs area. Sometimes to fish and sometimes just to visit but we always made it a point to meet Jerry... if for nothing else than dinner and laughs. 
You talk about a lot of things when you are on a boat all day and even more when 30 years have past. I’m going to really miss those talks and our friend!!

Jerry and I were classmates 1-12(no K then). He always had a smile and a story. He liked to say I was his first date. We went to a WWE match with his parents! We were so young!

When I returned home from Oklahoma, we worked together on our class reunion. He and I were so excited to help with the plans. Later he took me to “his office,” once to watch the fireworks which he wasn’t too crazy about doing because of all the crazies out on the water, and a couple of times to fish. I almost froze the first time, but I caught the biggest crappie I had ever seen.  The other time, he took my kids and me.  They loved it.

He loved Darla so much and was so proud of her.  He told me about her running, her hunting and fishing skills, and her job, and he beamed from ear to ear. He told me he wasn’t too sure about Ray at first, but he thought he was going to be all right. Lol  We both were anxious to become grandparents, and he beat me by a couple of years.  You know, Jerry always had a huge smile, but when he talked about Marshal, that smile went for miles. You can see the love in his eyes in the pictures of the two of them.

I will miss him terribly, but I am so thankful I got to call him friend and classmate.

It was around the summer of 1994, I had gotten out of school for the summer and went up to visit my Grandmother, as I had done for many summers.  Uncle Jerry picked me up to go fishing as he always did.  We were headed to the lake, when we passed a State Trooper (and he was going well above the speed limit).  We were chatting about fishing, girls and joking around when the Trooper turned around and pulled him over.  The Trooper came up to the truck, started asking him for his paperwork, when he just stopped and said "your Jerry Bean" and Jerry smiled and said "well yes, I am."  They talked for a brief minute or two, when Jerry handed him his business card and said "call me."   The Trooper then turned to me and said "Son, your not wearing your seat belt" and wrote me a ticket.  To this day, I have no idea how he turned the tables on me, but that was Uncle Jerry, always one step ahead.   Forever my hero and always with me.

OBITUARY

Mr. Jerry Bean

July 11, 1951 – July 28, 2019

Gross Funeral Home

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