Jerry L. McWilliams, BHS 1966

Jerry L McWilliams died on April 20, 2018 in Spokane WA. He was born on January 11, 1948 in Glendale CA to Woodrow W. McWilliams and Ruth Z McWilliams. Jerry died of heart failure after a brief illness.

He was raised in Burbank, CA where he graduated from Burbank High School in 1966. Following graduation, he enlisted in the US Navy, serving as an Aviation Electronics Technician in San Diego, Japan and Vietnam.

He moved to Spokane from southern California in 1973 to follow his parents who had retired here earlier. He worked as a carpenter at Apollo Boats for six months prior to employment in the U S Postal Service. He served as a mail handler/letter carrier for 34 of his 38 years of federal service
He married Jackie Carter McWilliams on May 24, 1975 at Hillyard Baptist Church. They have made their home in the North Indian Trail neighborhood for 43 years. They were charter members of Fairwood Community Baptist Church in 1976.

A friend referred to Jerry as a ‘Renaissance Man’. He began riding motorcycles as a teenage and completed nine rides from Mexico to Canada over Labor Day holidays in the 1990’s with the Southern California Motorcycles Association’s Three Flags Classic. Sailing, skiing, scuba diving and photography were hobbies pursued with passion. He visited National Parks and other wilderness areas, and delighted in trips to the coasts of Washington, Oregon and California, the last of which was to Carlsbad, CA. Formula One Race Cars were his favorites. Creativity and humor were his gifts to friends and family.

Survivors include his wife, Jackie McWilliams, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Paul and Linda Carter, Spokane, WA; Nephew Jason Evans, Ephrata, WA; Nieces Kelli Crough, Fresno, CA; Suzi Carter Megney, Mead WA; Kami English, Mill Creek WA; Jan Carter, Fairfield, WA; Jill Marie Carter, Spokane WA, and their immediate and extended families.

A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, May 2, 2018, 2:00 pm at Bethany Presbyterian Church, 2607 South Ray, Spokane, WA.

Memorial Contributions may be made to Glacier National Park Conservancy, PO Box 2749, Columbia Falls, MT 59912 or Bethany Presbyterian Church, 2607 South Ray, Spokane, WA 99223.

Published in Spokesman-Review on Apr. 25, 2018