Jerry Jean Childress was born on Oct. 29, 1937, to Henry and Lou Gunther in Portland Oregon. In 1955, Jerry graduated from Franklin High School and started working as a switch board operator in Portland at the Pacific Northwest Bell Phone Company. Then, in 1956, she married Richard Terrell. They were blessed with three darling children. Starting with the oldest Rick, Bob and Teresa.
In 1976, Jerry married Jay Childress of Woodland, Washington. That love moved her and her three children to Woodland, Washington. Three years later, they were blessed with a girl named Jaylene.
She is survived by her husband of 46 years, Jaydean; sons, Rick (Julia) Terrell, of Maui, Hawaii, and Robert (Dawn) Terrell, of Woodland; daughters, Teresa (Gary) Fiddy, of Woodland, and Jaylene (Rob) Lockett, of Vancouver, Washington; 12 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and sister Johnna Riggs.
Jerry loved family trips to the beach, Mount Hood and Mount Rainier and cooking her famous fried chicken.
Jerry’s love for Jehovah was deep and strong, and her faith in His promises was unbreakable. You could always find a smile on her face and encouraging words with, “Don’t worry, be happy, it will all come out in the wash.” Jerry will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved her, and if she was here she would tell you all, “I love you more and bye for now!”
A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Jan. 14, 2023 at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 6990 Green Mountain Road, Woodland, Washington, 98674.
Following the service there will be a reception at The Peterson Farm Red Barn, 1605 Caples Road, Woodland.
