Jerry Pearce Gholson, beloved dad, grandpa/papa and great-grandpa/Papa Jerre, took the hand of Jesus to join the love of his life in Heaven on Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at the Linda E. White Hospice House in Evansville, Indiana.
Jerry was born on May 5, 1935 to John Randel and Georgia Ann (Pearce) Gholson in McLeansboro, Illinois. He was the 9th of 10 children, raised on a farm in Hamilton County, Illinois, that was rich in love and family values. Jerry served in the United States Marine Corps, stationed in Hawaii, for three years. After being honorably discharged, he moved to Evansville, Indiana to attend classes at Lockyear Business College, where he met his soulmate, Kay (Leach) Gholson. Within a year of meeting, Jerry and Kay were engaged, and married on November 28, 1959; they would have celebrated their 64th Anniversary next month. Jerry went to work at Mead-Johnson Nutritional/Bristol-Myers Squibb, where he retired after 30+ years. During his time at “Meads,” Jerry was responsible for selecting, ordering and distributing toys to the families of employees at the annual Mead Johnson picnic – something he thoroughly enjoyed. Jerry was a very hands-on dad in the lives of his three daughters – from vacations of camping and fishing to trips to amusement parks and ballgames, he attended their church and school events, coached sports teams, chauffeured them to various activities and tried to teach them how to change a tire and do basic home repairs. Jerry was a member of First Christian Church in Evansville and served as a deacon, was on many committees, visited shut-ins, picked up members for church on Sundays that were unable to drive, active in the Homebuilders Sunday School Class and Tweenagers Bible Study. He loved watching sports – Chicago Cubs, Chicago Bears, Fighting Illini, golf, horseracing and anything his grandchildren/great-grandchildren did. He was a true gentleman, always holding the door open for others, offering his seat if someone was standing, polite and always had a kind word. Jerry and Kay’s love story was one that not even their brief separation by Kay’s passing on October 7, 2023 could end. Their love will live on forever and be treasured memories of their family.
Those left to miss him include his loving daughters, Kelly Seibert of Evansville, IN, Cindy Black-Boughton (Dan) of Niles, MI and Amy Ferguson of Evansville, IN; sister, Elizabeth Neal of Marion, IL; sisters-in-law, Carol Leach of Tulsa, OK, and Pat Gholson of Carmi, IL; grandchildren, Donald Breivogel III, Megan Adams (Zach), Emily Seibert, Brittanie Black, Logan Black, Mark Boughton (Christina), Abigail Kowalski (Colin), Alaina Dukart (Ashton), Aletheia Boughton, Hunter Ferguson and Holden Ferguson (Norah); great grandchildren, Jace Boerner, Everleigh and Weston Adams, Olivia-Kate and Finn Boughton, Orin and Rayla Kowalski, Delilah, Lilianna and Ariella Dukart, and many nieces and nephews.
Jerry was preceded in death by his wife, Lydia Kay (Leach) Gholson; parents, Randel and Georgia (Pearce) Gholson; son-in-law, Pastor Lowell Black; brothers, John, Joe, Charles, Dick and Jim Gholson; sisters, Sylvia Drosdahl, Elsie Auxier and Annette Webb; brothers-in-law, Dr. James Leach, Arnet Drosdahl, Rev. Bill Auxier, and Carlos Neal; sisters-in-law, Louise Gholson, and Ruth Gholson; and nephew, Christopher Leach.
Private family services were held on Friday, October 20, 2023 with entombment following at Alexander Memorial Park Cemetery.
The family would like to thank the staff of Unit 4600 at Deaconess Midtown, The Heritage Center of Evansville and the wonderful care of the nurses, techs, therapists and chaplains at Linda E. White Hospice House.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Linda E. White Hospice House, 611 Harriet St., Evansville, IN 47710, or the First Christian Church Building Fund, 2845 Beaumont Dr., Evansville, IN 47725.
