Jerry Edward Weatherly was born on Sept. 21, 1943, at home on a farm four miles west of Callaway, to Ross and Verna (Woodward) Weatherly. He passed away on Feb. 23, 2026, at his home in Tucson, Arizona.

Jerry attended a two-room country school until the seventh grade when the school was consolidated with the Callaway school district. He graduated from Callaway High School with the class of 1963. While in high school Jerry enjoyed sports where he was one of the top athletes and lettered all four years in all the major sports.

His love of sports would continue as an adult where he was an accomplished bowler and golfer into his 70’s when declining health prevented any further participation. He also enjoyed the occasional visit to a local casino or a trip to Las Vegas. When tablets became popular, his favorite app was Texas Hold’em poker.

Jerry enlisted into the Arizona Air National Guard in 1964 and was honorably discharged after serving six years. He liked to tell the story that his commanding officer tried to incentivize him to re-up for another six years by promising him a ride in a fighter jet. An offer he had to decline. But a few days before being discharged, the captain took him for a ride in a fighter jet and made a few practice bombing runs. About this time, he obtained his private pilot’s license and was active for several years flying mostly in Arizona.

In 1972 Jerry married Eileen Ann Finley and would help raise her two children, Bruce and Debra. Jerry worked for about 40 years performing maintenance and repairs for commercial food and cleaning equipment. During this time, he was a co-owner of the Tucson branch of Hobart Sales and Service for about 10 years and would later work for Pro Clean Inc. In his spare time, he invented and received a patent for an adjustable cup holder before cup holders became standard equipment in cars. It was sold by several Walmart stores.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Ross and Verna Weatherly; stepdaughter, Debra Storm; sisters, Lula Pitts, Rosezella Price, and Betty Martin; brothers-in-law, Tony Pitts, Sidney Price, Norman Martin, Dale Bubak, and Roger Brestel; nieces, Karen Bubak, and Denise Weatherly; and his nephew, Shelby Brestel.

He is survived by his wife, Eileen; sisters, Bonnie Bubak and Shirley Brestel; brothers, Dick Weatherly and Gary Weatherly; stepson, Bruce and wife Lea; step-son-in-law, Peter Storm; step-granddaughters, Kelly Finley and Aubrey Gallardo; step-grandsons, Jason Conger and Aric Cook; a step-great-grandson, step-great-granddaughters, a step-great-great-grandson, a step-great-great-granddaughter; and many nephews and nieces.

With the help of his wife of 54 years, he courageously battled several serious health issues including Parkinson’s disease and end-stage renal disease. His remains will be cremated and ashes scattered (some may end up on a golf course in the middle of a fairway about 275 yards from the tee, but don’t tell anyone).