Funeral Services for Jerold “Jerry” Lewis, Age 81 of Ava, Missouri will be held on Saturday, May 30th, 2026 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Ava, Missouri, beginning at 2:00 PM. Visitation will precede the service, beginning at 1:00 PM.
Jerry Brown was born November 5, 1944, in Eagar, Arizona to Ether (Joe) Brown and Elva Lorntzen Brown, and passed away in his home on Friday May 22, 2026 at 81 years old.
He married the love of his life Nardena Hardt on October 14, 1965, in Eagar, Arizona. They moved around a bit through Arizona before settling in Missouri in 1972.
He served his country in the Army as a Mortarman during the Vietnam war from December 1966 to December of 1968. He was an E5 Sergeant and was awarded a Combat Infantry Badge in January of 1968.
Jerry loved his Savior, Jesus Christ, and was a long time member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Ava, Missouri. During his membership with this church, he was the Bishop of the congregation for almost 6 years, and spent multiple decades with the Boy Scout Troop.
He worked many jobs and could do whatever he put his mind to. He worked for the County Road Department in Arizona and Missouri, he was a Certified Horse Ferrier, Welder, and most importantly a builder. He built anything from cabinets and homes to commercial buildings.
Jerry was a cowboy through and through, riding horses almost before he could walk. He loved music, and would sing along and dance with Nardena every chance he got. He loved reading Louis L’Amour books, and any animal, especially his Australian Shepherd, Molly. His greatest joy came from chasing his 6 daughters, 23 Grandkids, and 20 Great Grandkids at any sport, musical event, or any other special occasion. His family was his pride and joy.
Jerry was preceded in death by his father and mother, his sisters, Faye Claycomb, Marie Johnston, Nedra LeSueur, his brother, Bowen Brown, and his granddaughter, Hannah Dotts.
He is survived by his wife of sixty years, Nardena Brown, Ava; his sisters: Gladys Pena, Eagar, Arizona; Linda (Richard) Carrillo, Eagar, Arizona; Teri (Val) Cluff, Springerville, Arizona; Rachel (Glenn) Finch, Eagar Arizona; his daughters: Noelelle (Billy) Dotts, Ava, Missouri; Dawn (Troy) Finch, Brighton, Missouri; Jennifer (Eddie) Horn, Nixa, Missouri; Leah (Phil) Berkheimer, Springfield, Missouri; Tessa (Jason) DaCosta, Clever, Missouri; Laura (Dan) Clark, St. Charles, Missouri; Grandchildren -Eric (Kami) Dotts; Jeremy (Rhiannon) Dotts; Haley Dotts; Brian Dotts;
Johnathon (Laurel) Finch; William (Sarah) Finch; Chelsee (Blake) Parsons; Ashley (Jeff) Greene; Ethan (Dana) Horn; Bethany (Brian) Fleetwood; Evan (Janessa) Horn; Ivan (Ale) Berkheimer; Jacob (Kamerin) Berkheimer; Anna Berkheimer; Braden Smith; Taschler Smith; Jaxon DaCosta; Noah Clark: Brady Clark; Lincoln Clark; Hudson Clark; Penelope Clark; and twenty great grandchildren with two more on the way.
