Obituary for Jerry Ware

Funeral service for Jerry Lawrence Ware, 69, will be at 2 p.m, Friday, July 10, 2015 at Central Baptist Church with the Rev. John Waterloo officiating. Jerry died July 4, 2015 at his home in Ponca City. Family will be at his daughter, Becky’s, home, 1936 Joe.

Jerry was born October 16, 1945, in Blue Ridge, TX, the son of Ruth Upchurch and Jesse Batey. After his mother married Earl Ware, Jerry took the name of Ware, legally changing it at a later date. He joined the U.S. Army in 1963, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant E6. He earned several awards, including a Vietnam Medal with two Bronze Stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 Device, and two Vietnam Crosses of Gallantry with Palms.

In the late 1960s, he met Neva Mae Slater, who was also serving in the U.S. Army, and the couple married at Fort Sill, OK on July 6, 1967. They traveled with the military throughout the United States and other countries, including Africa and Japan, as military police. Leaving the Army with an honorable discharge in 1979, the family moved to Nebraska before moving to Oklahoma in 1985, and to Ponca City in 1987. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Neva, in 2007.

Mr. Ware was employed as a truck driver for various companies, including Sullivan Trucking and Action Trucking. A member of Central Baptist Church, he was involved in many church activities, was an avid bowler, and enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren.

Survivors include a son, Charles Ware, and wife Maressa, of Portland, TN, a son, Matt Ware, and his wife, Rebecca, of rural Newkirk, a son, Jeff Ware, and his wife, Susie, a son, Jerry Ware, and his wife, Diana, and a daughter, Becky, and her husband, Travis Gillespie, all of Ponca City.

He is also survived by grandchildren: Stacey, Kayla and Bryan Ware of Portland, TN, Ryan Ware of Chicago, IL, Matthew and Tommy Ware of Ponca City, Wrangler and Mary-Beth Ware of rural Newkirk, Sarah and Rose Ware of Ponca City, Kyle, Jeryana and Christopher Ware of Ponca City, Bridget Gillespie of Blackwell, Sean, Alex, and Gabriella Gillespie of Ponca City.

He is also survived by his sister JoAnn Roper, of Moreland, GA, Hazel Taylor, of Lubbock, TX, Carolyn and Rodman Clark, of Crowley, TX, Mary and Tom Noble, of Willis, TX, and Donna and Greg Moorhead of Lubbock, TX.

Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Park, east of Ponca City, following the service. Casketbearers will be sons, Charles, Matt, Jeff, Jerry, grandson, Sean Gillespie, and son-in-law Travis Gillespie. Honorary casketbearers will be Bryan Ware, Wrangler Ware, Kyle Ware, Alex Gillespie, Matthew Ware, Tommy Ware.

Contributions may be made to the Building Fund at Central Baptist Church at 1732 E. Coleman Rd.

Source: Trout Funeral Home