Jerry Wayne Bethurem 1948-2011

Jerry Wayne Bethurem, of Crocker, was born on September 27, 1948, at Stoutland, a son of Ralph Wayne and Elsie (Kennedy) Bethurem and departed this life on Wednesday, December 14, 2011, at Fort Leonard Wood. Mr. Bethurem had been in failing health for some time and had attained the age of 63 years, 2 months, and 17 days.

Mr. Bethurem was united in marriage on May 17, 1969, at Iberia to Linda Lou Gardner and to this union, two children were born. He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Linda York.

Mr. Bethurem was a member of the Crocker Christian Church and a retired United States Army veteran, having served during Desert Shield and Desert Storm and achieving the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 4. He had worked as equipment manager at the Equipment Concentration Site # 66, Fort Leonard Wood, retiring in 2004. Mr. Bethurem enjoyed playing golf, skeet shooting and working on cars.

Those left to mourn the passing of Mr. Bethurem include: his wife, Linda Bethurem, of the home near Crocker; one son and daughter-in-law, Eric and Melanie Bethurem, Belton; one daughter and son-in-law, Holly and James Parks, Crocker; six grandchildren, Allison Bethurem, Mikayla Bethurem, Jared Bowling, Ethan Bethurem, Chloe Parks and Madison Parks; and many other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were conducted for Mr. Bethurem at 1:00 P.M., Friday, December 16, 2011, in the Long-Kloeppel Funeral Chapel, Crocker with Bro. Larry Richardson officiating. Two favorite musical selections were played for the service.

Interment with full military honors was in the Missouri Veterans Cemetery, Waynesville under the direction of the Long-Kloeppel Funeral Homes and Cremation Services, Crocker. United States Army personnel served as pallbearers for Mr. Bethurem.