Jerry Paul Sowell
Jerry Paul Sowell of Republic, Missouri, passed on Saturday, November 21st surrounded by family at the age of 80. Born on March 3rd, 1940, in Bergman, Arkansas, he was the only child of Paul and Ruth Butler Sowell. Jerry grew up moving between the railroad communities of Bergman and Cotter, Arkansas and Crane, Missouri but was always surrounded by a tight knit group of cousins and friends. He enjoyed participating in athletics whether it was baseball, basketball, or his life-long passion, golf. He continued to support grandkids, nieces, and nephews in their love of sports throughout his life. He met his wife, Patsy Lorene Kerans, at a Galena high school basketball game, and was married in August of 1963. He and Patsy had three children, Gavin Sowell of Crane (wife Terrie Reavis), Stephanie Jones of Marionville (husband Randy Jones), and Jane Brummett of Denver, Colorado (husband Stuart Brummett). Jerry’s work as a regional sales manager for DAYCO took him from Oklahoma to Illinois and ultimately back to southwest Missouri. The time spent working for DAYCO helped fuel Jerry’s love of the game of golf and fostered the many friendships he gained through the sport. Jerry and Patsy were founding members of Faith Chapel of Crane. Following the death of Patsy in May of 2002, the game of golf and Jerry’s time spent at Millwood Golf and Racket Club played a key role in Jerry’s being introduced to his dear friend, Jean Miles, and her daughters, Lisa and Sonya. In Jean, Jerry found a friend whose love of the game and time spent outdoors equaled his own. Jerry is survived by his three children, ten grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren with another on the way. Jerry Sowell never met a stranger, and it was not uncommon for Jerry to run into a friend halfway across the country. As father, “Poppy”, and friend, he will be deeply missed. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Jerry Sowell Sports Memorial Fund at the Bank of Billings to aid student athletes in southwest Missouri.
Jerry Paul Sowell of Republic, Missouri, passed on Saturday, November 21st surrounded by family at the age of 80. Born on March 3rd, 1940, in Bergman, Arkansas, he was the only child of Paul and Ruth Butler Sowell. Jerry grew up moving between the railroad communities of Bergman and Cotter, Arkansas and Crane, Missouri but was always surrounded by a tight knit group of cousins and friends. He enjoyed participating in athletics whether it was baseball, basketball, or his life-long passion, golf. He continued to support grandkids, nieces, and nephews in their love of sports throughout his life. He met his wife, Patsy Lorene Kerans, at a Galena high school basketball game, and was married in August of 1963. He and Patsy had three children, Gavin Sowell of Crane (wife Terrie Reavis), Stephanie Jones of Marionville (husband Randy Jones), and Jane Brummett of Denver, Colorado (husband Stuart Brummett). Jerry’s work as a regional sales manager for DAYCO took him from Oklahoma to Illinois and ultimately back to southwest Missouri. The time spent working for DAYCO helped fuel Jerry’s love of the game of golf and fostered the many friendships he gained through the sport. Jerry and Patsy were founding members of Faith Chapel of Crane. Following the death of Patsy in May of 2002, the game of golf and Jerry’s time spent at Millwood Golf and Racket Club played a key role in Jerry’s being introduced to his dear friend, Jean Miles, and her daughters, Lisa and Sonya. In Jean, Jerry found a friend whose love of the game and time spent outdoors equaled his own. Jerry is survived by his three children, ten grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren with another on the way. Jerry Sowell never met a stranger, and it was not uncommon for Jerry to run into a friend halfway across the country. As father, “Poppy”, and friend, he will be deeply missed. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Jerry Sowell Sports Memorial Fund at the Bank of Billings to aid student athletes in southwest Missouri.
