Gerald S. Walker, age 74, of Clancy

Gerald Stuart Walker – Jerry to his friends and family – passed away to be with the Lord on June 27, 2016, after more than a 25-year battle with cancer.

Jerry was born on November 13, 1941 as the second son to James and Ellen Walker. Jerry’s childhood home on 9^th Avenue in Helena, Montana was the site of some of his early “experiments” in tinkering with motors and electronics.  He often told stories of how his family was the first on the block to have a TV – one that he built himself when he was 12 – and whose parts stretched halfway across the basement.  He recalled building a rocket that actually flew – straight into the electrical wires, knocking out power to a good portion of Helena.  He laughed when telling of the time he mounted an electric washing machine motor on an old push lawn mower.  Apparently, it “worked great,” but didn’t have an on/off switch and moved at a fast jog.  Jerry’s mom Ellen was proud of her son’s creation and invited all the neighbors over to see her use his invention.  All went well until she mowed over some rogue dog poop and sent a smelly shower flying all over herself and her observers.  Rumor had it there wasn’t another power mower at their house for years.

Jerry attended St. Helena Catholic grade school as a child. This religious foundation stayed with Jerry over the years and though he was unable to attend Mass as often as he would have liked, he was devout in his beliefs and so grateful that St. Helena’s Cathedral was able to send Father Crutchfield out to visit with him one last time.

Jerry graduated from Helena High School in 1960. He married Carol Horne (Dees) the same year.  Over the course of their marriage, Jerry was blessed with four children: Robert Stuart, Christie Rae, Randall Scott, and Richard Curtis.  Jerry and Carol later divorced, with Jerry going on to marry Debbie Fulford.  With her, he welcomed another daughter, Amanda Virginia.

Jerry spent seven years serving in the National Guard. He trained in electronics during the course of his service, a trade that provided well for him in the years to come.  While attending Basic Training, an incident with an automatic potato peeler that “accidentally” turned 500 lbs of potatoes into approximately 5 lbs of marble-sized-spuds ensured Jerry was never KP’d to peel potatoes again.  After returning from Basic Training, Jerry began his career at American Smelting in East Helena in 1961.  There he advanced from apprentice electrician up to master electrician.  He eventually became the Electrical Supervisor and Maintenance Manager for ASARCO in East Helena, working at other plants in the US and Canada to share his knowledge in his field.  After 34 years, Jerry decided to retire from ASARCO.  For those 34 years, he carried the same black metal lunch box to work every day.  He said it got to be a source of pride to see who would make it the longest, him or that lunch box.

Retirement didn’t last too long for Jerry, as he found it too leisurely of a lifestyle to suit him. He spent the next ten years working for Montana Tunnels Mining and then Canyon Ferry Dam, after which he finally decided to slow down and turn his attention to his favorite hobby – restoring classic cars and street rods, a passion he had carried with him his entire life.  He joined the Helena Street Rodders and remained a member for many years.  His first street rod was a 1929 Ford Coupe he built from the ground up and painted Wineberry Red.  It had an electric rumble seat in the back and some of Jerry’s proudest moments were when he could get one of the kids or grandkids to sit in that seat so he could give them a ride in one of the many parades he drove in.  When the family outgrew the “29 Koop” Jerry moved on to several more street rods, including a 1933 Ford Sedan that he drove all the way across the country in to visit his sister Judy in West Virginia.  One of his favorites was a classic 1956 Tudor hardtop Chevy.  He always regretted selling it but he always said “some guy made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.”   The last street rod he was able to work on was a 1936 Ford Pickup truck that he painted bright purple with a Pink Panther on the tailgate.  It delighted him that kids of all ages loved that truck.

Besides his family and his faith, the other loves in Jerry’s life included drawing and playing his guitar. Many times you could find him, glasses on, either with pencil or guitar in hand, perfecting his craft.

While Jerry loved all of his children deeply, it wasn’t until retirement that he got to spend much one on one time with a small child. Jerry volunteered to help babysit his daughter Mandy’s first child, Hunter, when she had difficulty finding daycare.  While most of his child care skills involved napping with and overfeeding Hunter until his Grandma Donna lovingly referred to the baby as “Chris Farley,” Jerry and Hunter formed a bond that was so special to both of them.  Jerry couldn’t bear to see that little boy go away to daycare, so Hunter, followed soon by his little sister, Hannah, spent time nearly every day with their precious “Grampy,” until they started kindergarten.  Even then, they were lucky enough to be able to ride to the school bus stop near Jerry’s house and have him pick them up to spend time together (usually spoiling them and feeding them things their mother disapproved of).  Jerry leaves behind one heartbroken little boy and little girl that will forever remember what an awesome “Grampy” they had.

Jerry is survived by his wife of 34 years, Debbie. While in his final days, Debbie was his caregiver, throughout their many years together, they took care of each other.  Jerry could never say no to any camera or computer accessory that Debbie decided she needed, and Debbie sat through years of car shows in return.  They were best friends, one rarely going anywhere without the other.  Even when it became hard for Jerry to get around, he would still chauffer Debbie to town and sit in the car while reading a book or listening to music while she did her shopping.  They genuinely enjoyed each other’s company and never took the love they had for each other for granted.  Years ago, they took dance lessons together, and they would frequently practice in their living room.  They continued to waltz and foxtrot all the way up to Jerry’s passing.  She is heartbroken without her dance partner and chauffer.

In addition to Debbie, Jerry is survived by his five children, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren:

Jerry’s first-born son Rob Walker, his wife Eileen, and their four boys – Charles (Chip), Griffin, Bryce, and Henry. Jerry was so proud of the success Rob achieved both professionally and personally.  He single handedly built a flourishing dental practice in Spokane and Jerry always fondly referred to him as “my son Rob, the dentist,” when telling stories about him.  Rob and Eileen’s sons are a testament to the amazing upbringing they have had as they are all wonderful boys that Jerry took great pride in.

Jerry’s first-born daughter Christie (Walker) Spurlock, her husband Barney, and their four beautiful children – Nichole Rose (Spurlock) Brown, her husband Nate, and their two daughters, Isabella and Brynlee; Lacey Rae (Spurlock) Forrey, her husband Eric, and their children Riley Brakefield and Sydney; Emma Lee Spurlock and her partner Israel Schwope with Emma’s children Walker and Avery Clark; and Clancy Jerald Spurlock, his wife Johnnie and their brand new baby, River Rose. Jerry was so happy he got to meet this little girl before he passed.

Jerry’s second son, Randy, his wife Brenda, and Randy’s children – Kayla Rae Walker, and her fiancée Kayla; Emily Trey; and Peyton James and his partner Jocelyn. Jerry and Randy shared a love of mechanics and working with their hands.  Randy told of how, on the day Jerry passed away, he was working on his motorcycle and kept breaking drill bits.  He was frustrated and ready to give up when he looked one more time and there were three bits that his dad gave him, taped together in the bottom of the box.  He said the first one he used went through “like butter” and he could just imagine his dad laughing somewhere up there, like “told ya so.”

Jerry’s youngest son, Rich, and his son, Sean Thomas. Although Jerry pretended not to be interested in social media, he loved following his family’s achievements, activities and pictures on Facebook, and while Sean was raised in Indiana, Jerry was interested in his accomplishments and pleased he followed in his parents’ footsteps by joining the U.S. Air Force.  He was proud of all of his children’s and grandchildren’s endeavors.

Jerry’s youngest daughter, Mandy, and her partner Jake Dolezal, with their children – Hunter Christopher, Hannah Mackenzie, Kaidyn O’Keefe, and Addisyn Rose.

Jerry’s older brother, Donald James Walker, his wife, Betty, and their children Jim, Jodi Smith, John, and Joan Tabbert, as well as Don and Betty’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Jerry’s younger sister, Judith Ann (Walker) Reynolds, her husband, Roy, and their children Danny and Debbie Derico, as well as Roy and Judy’s grandchildren.

Jerry is preceded in death by his parents, James and Ellen Walker of Helena.

Per Jerry’s stubborn-yet-respected wishes, no services will be held. He will be missed by those who loved him.  He was the world to us.

Jerry loved the following song; it reminded him of how his parents loved to dance and what great dancers they were:

Dancing in the Sky

What does it look like in heaven Is it peaceful and free like they say Does the sun shine bright forever Have your fears and your pain gone away Cause here on earth it feels like everything.. Good is missing, since you left Here on earth everything is different, there is an emptiness I hope you’re dancing in the sky I hope you’re singing with the angels choir I hope the angels, know what they have I bet it’s nice up in heaven since you arrived Tell me, what do you do up in heaven Are your days filled with love and light Is there music? Is there art and invention Tell me are you happy and more alive Cause here on earth it feels like everything.. Good is missing, since you left Here on earth everything is different, there is an emptiness I hope you’re dancing in the sky I hope you’re singing in the angels choir I hope the angels, know what they have I bet it’s nice up in heaven since you arrived

Service Schedule

Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.

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