Jerry G. Gidley

A good Christian woman with strong, full, gospel values, ready to spread the word to anyone willing to listen are just a few ways to describe Jerry Gidley.

With WWII ending a few years prior, 1948 still saw a high demand of consumer goods and housing in the United States. The first pre-fabricated post war housing started to appear to solve the housing shortages to enable the baby boom after the war years by providing young couples with a home to start their family. NASCAR held their first race for modified stock cars in Daytona Beach, Florida, the game, Scrabble was introduced, and on April 18, 1948, Alonzo C. and Alberta (Sias) Varney, welcomed the birth of Jerry G. Varney, the middle of 17 children, in Chauncey Hollow, WV.

Jerry attended Magnolia High School in Matewen, WV, and graduated with the Class of 1966. On May 31, 1969, she married Jon Gidley in Clintwood, VA. They had known each other just three weeks and only had one date, but became best friends for 51 great years.. She never saw a train or heard a siren without saying ”Bless them Jesus”.   Jerry worked as a Study Hall Monitor for Whitko Community Schools for many years until her retirement in 2005. She loved all of her kids and considered it her calling to be there for them, loving all without reservation. Jerry also enjoyed engaging in geneology research. She will always be remembered in the hearts of those that knew and loved her.

Jerry G. Gidley, age 72, of South Whitley, IN, passed away at 8:46 pm on Saturday, June 27, 2020 at her residence, surrounded by her loving family.

Survivors include her husband, Jon Gidley of South Whitley; daughters, Tammy (Tim Trimmer) Slater and Tina (Doug) Kessie, both of South Whitley; grandchildren, Kyle Slater, Kayla (Ben) Buchanan, Nathan (Alexis) Slater, Joshua (Shayla) Kessie, Cole Kessie, Ryan (Kirstyn) Slater, and Kristina Slater; great- grandchildren, Steven, Andrew, Kaylinn, Nicole, Aiden, Liam, Brady, Dawson, Hudson, Carter, and Parker; siblings, Sherry Blankenship, Daisy Warren, Alma Smith, Rebecca Jenkins, Deborah Peck, and Jennifer Chafin, Alvis Varney, Larry Varney, D. Todd Varney, Anthony Varney, and Robin Varney,

She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Gail Grimm, June Wellman, Sarah Varney, Anna Davis, and brother Ricky Varney.

A gathering of family and friends will be  4-8 pm on Tuesday June 30, 2020  at DeMoney-Grimes Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive,Columbia City.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am on Wednesday July 1, 2020 at the funeral home, with limited seating. The funeral service may also be watched live on Facebook through DeMoney Grimes Live.

Burial will follow in South Whitley Cemetery, South Whitley.

Memorial donations may be given in memory of Jerry to Cleveland Township Fire Department.

Visit www.demoneygrimes.com  to send Jerry's family online condolences or sign the online guest book.

To view Jerry's service from Wednesday, click the Facebook link below. Thank you.

Jerry Gidley Funeral Service through Facebook