On October 11, 2022, Jerry Dennis Pulliam, at the age of 80 years, 9 months, and 17 days joined his beloved CeCe in their forever heavenly home. He was surrounded by his three devoted daughters, Pam, Val, and Gina, who will carry on his loving legacy.
Jerry was born on January 24, 1942, at Birch Tree, Missouri, to Harley and Edna (Barnes) Pulliam, where he spent his youth. During his high school years, he found his high school sweetheart, loved playing basketball and was involved in FFA. He also spent two summers in Colorado helping on a ranch, which he loved. On September 8, 1958, Jerry married his sweetheart, CeCe, and moved to Holdrege, Nebraska, to work and start their family. Here is where Jerry found his passion for music and enjoyed playing and singing in a country swing band with CeCe and a couple of friends. He also began his career of floor installation there and found a passion for hunting and archery. He and his family enjoyed practicing and participating in archery tournaments. Jerry became an avid shooter, one grandson referring to him as Robin Hood, winning many first-place trophies, state championships, and accolades through the years. When he and his family returned to Missouri in 1971, he shared this passion by teaching not only his family but eventually opened his own archery shops and range, where he taught and influenced countless others as well for 40 years. Jerry was saved and baptized at Oak Grove Baptist Church in his thirties and loved the Lord.
Jerry was an extremely faithful, tenacious, dedicated, and hard-working man. He loved deeply and fiercely, making sure he told his family he loved them. He took pride in his work, never complained, and was a perfectionist in all things. He installed floor covering all over the area for 60 years, 43 of which he mentored and worked with his son-in-law, Les. Jerry enjoyed playing golf with family and friends, especially with his son-in-law, Noal. Family was extremely important to him. He loved family gatherings; Christmas and the Dirty Santa gifts were his favorite and really enjoyed watching all the grandchildren open presents. Jerry was known as Dad, Daddy, Papaw, Pa, Grandpa, and Honey. He and CeCe enjoyed working and spending time together and traveling to Arizona every year to visit CeCe’s brother, Hugh. When Jerry lost the love of his life, CeCe, to a sudden illness in 2020, his own health rapidly declined, not only from Lewy Body Dementia but of a broken heart.
Jerry leaves a wonderful legacy behind in his three daughters and their families, Pam and Lester Nicholson, Val Francis, and Gina and Noal Presley; grandchildren, Rebecca and Justin, Leslie, Aaron and Caitlin, Monica and Tony, Jonah and Kayla, and Hunter; great-grandchildren, Christen and Dustin, Dylan and Kate, Tyler and Kinsley, Cabella, Easton, Lily, Jake, Paige, Jaren, Chloe, Kambria, Harlow, and Lotus; great-great-grandchildren, Kennedi and Kadee; and a host of family and friends. Jerry will be sadly missed but will carry on in the many lives of those he loved and influenced.
