Jerardo (Jerry) Vasquez Jimenez, 88, of Silver City, entered eternal rest Thursday, March 3, 2022, at Mesilla Valley Hospice in Las Cruces, NM.
Jerry was born on October 1, 1933 to Jesus and Julia Jimenez in Lordsburg, New Mexico. He served in the United States Air Force from March 24, 1951 to July 13, 1954, where he was stationed in Okinawa, Japan during the Korean War conducting map operations.
After returning to Lordsburg from the Korean War, he met and wed his soul mate Celia (Sally) Morales in 1955. In their early years of marriage, Jerry and Sally enjoyed life with their friends and provided extensive support to their families. Twelve years later, they were blessed with their daughter Margaret. They were married 67 years.
Jerry earned a Bachelor's degree in general science from Western New Mexico University in 1961 and began his professional career as a Case Worker with the New Mexico Welfare Department in Las Cruces. He went on to work for the New Mexico Highway Department as a Field Office Manager. He was instrumental in the design of Highway 15 leading to the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. In this position, he and Sally lived in several cities across New Mexico. The couple settled their home in Silver City in 1964, where he returned to work as a Case Worker with the State Income Support Division in Grant County and completed his career as a Supervisor with the Division.
Jerry fully embraced retirement in 1988 and spent his time painting landscapes and old buildings, reading, gardening, and riding his motorcycle. He loved being outside and often hiked in the Gila Wilderness. He cherished spending time with his family, fully participating in the lives of his grandchildren. His number one pride and joy was his family.
He was known for being able to fix just about anything, always throwing himself into projects from mechanics and carpentry to furniture restoration.
Jerry held education in high regard, a value he instilled in his daughter and grandchildren and was encouraging of all those around them to pursue a higher education. Jerry was unwavering in his faith and enjoyed spending time in church. He was a good friend, a good neighbor and was always willing to help those around him.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Monica Jimenez Figueroa, Jose Jimenez, Cleofas Jimenez, Paula Jimenez Mirabal, Barbara Jimenez Levario and Ernestina Jimenez Morelos. He is survived by his wife Celia (Sally), sister Delfina (Dellie) Jimenez Diaz of Silver City, daughter and son-in-law Margaret and Mike Kesler of Silver City, sister-in-law Dr. Lorraine Morales of Tucson, AZ, his granddaughters Donyelle Lucero and her husband Brandon Lucero and their two children Nicholas and Charli of Rio Rancho, NM, Sarah Engelbrecht and her husband Jeff Engelbrecht of Phoenix, AZ and his grandson Adam Kesler of Phoenix, AZ.
Visitation for Jerry will be held at Terrazas Funeral Chapel at 5 p.m. immediately followed by a Rosary at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 17th. A funeral mass will be held at 9:30 a.m. Friday, March 18th at St. Francis Newman Center. Burial will take place at 11 a.m. at the Fort Bayard National Cemetery with full military honors. Pallbearers include Adam Kesler, Santos Vigil, Jacob Verdugo, Paul Diaz, Brandon Lucero, and Jeff Engelbrecht. Honorary Pallbearers are Mike Kesler, Michael Jimenez, Joe Jimenez, Juan Verdugo, Michael Shulte, Fred Baca, Tony Valdiviezo, Tony Levario, Fred Fernandez and Ramon (Monchi) Murrillo.
Arrangements are with Terrazas Funeral Chapel.
Jerry was born on October 1, 1933 to Jesus and Julia Jimenez in Lordsburg, New Mexico. He served in the United States Air Force from March 24, 1951 to July 13, 1954, where he was stationed in Okinawa, Japan during the Korean War conducting map operations.
After returning to Lordsburg from the Korean War, he met and wed his soul mate Celia (Sally) Morales in 1955. In their early years of marriage, Jerry and Sally enjoyed life with their friends and provided extensive support to their families. Twelve years later, they were blessed with their daughter Margaret. They were married 67 years.
Jerry earned a Bachelor's degree in general science from Western New Mexico University in 1961 and began his professional career as a Case Worker with the New Mexico Welfare Department in Las Cruces. He went on to work for the New Mexico Highway Department as a Field Office Manager. He was instrumental in the design of Highway 15 leading to the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. In this position, he and Sally lived in several cities across New Mexico. The couple settled their home in Silver City in 1964, where he returned to work as a Case Worker with the State Income Support Division in Grant County and completed his career as a Supervisor with the Division.
Jerry fully embraced retirement in 1988 and spent his time painting landscapes and old buildings, reading, gardening, and riding his motorcycle. He loved being outside and often hiked in the Gila Wilderness. He cherished spending time with his family, fully participating in the lives of his grandchildren. His number one pride and joy was his family.
He was known for being able to fix just about anything, always throwing himself into projects from mechanics and carpentry to furniture restoration.
Jerry held education in high regard, a value he instilled in his daughter and grandchildren and was encouraging of all those around them to pursue a higher education. Jerry was unwavering in his faith and enjoyed spending time in church. He was a good friend, a good neighbor and was always willing to help those around him.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Monica Jimenez Figueroa, Jose Jimenez, Cleofas Jimenez, Paula Jimenez Mirabal, Barbara Jimenez Levario and Ernestina Jimenez Morelos. He is survived by his wife Celia (Sally), sister Delfina (Dellie) Jimenez Diaz of Silver City, daughter and son-in-law Margaret and Mike Kesler of Silver City, sister-in-law Dr. Lorraine Morales of Tucson, AZ, his granddaughters Donyelle Lucero and her husband Brandon Lucero and their two children Nicholas and Charli of Rio Rancho, NM, Sarah Engelbrecht and her husband Jeff Engelbrecht of Phoenix, AZ and his grandson Adam Kesler of Phoenix, AZ.
Visitation for Jerry will be held at Terrazas Funeral Chapel at 5 p.m. immediately followed by a Rosary at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 17th. A funeral mass will be held at 9:30 a.m. Friday, March 18th at St. Francis Newman Center. Burial will take place at 11 a.m. at the Fort Bayard National Cemetery with full military honors. Pallbearers include Adam Kesler, Santos Vigil, Jacob Verdugo, Paul Diaz, Brandon Lucero, and Jeff Engelbrecht. Honorary Pallbearers are Mike Kesler, Michael Jimenez, Joe Jimenez, Juan Verdugo, Michael Shulte, Fred Baca, Tony Valdiviezo, Tony Levario, Fred Fernandez and Ramon (Monchi) Murrillo.
Arrangements are with Terrazas Funeral Chapel.
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