Jerry, 93, of Norman, Oklahoma passed away Sunday, March 3, 2024. He was born March 5, 1930, in Albert Lea, Minnesota to Rudyard Kershaw and Grace (Kennelly) Kershaw Barick.
He grew up in Stronghurst, Illinois and graduated from Stronghurst High School in 1948. He was raised by his grandparents, Andrew and Sarah Kershaw, and by a special uncle, Fred Kershaw.
He met Betty (Elizabeth) Boyce in 1948 while they were both working for the Santa Fe Railroad in Stronghurst, Illinois. They fell in love and were married on September 3, 1950 in Galesburg, Kansas. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War and served proudly in Iceland and Fort Worth, Texas, from 1951-1955. Their first child, Karen, was born in 1954, and a son, Michael came along in 1956. By this time, they were living in Emporia, Kansas. Jerry worked for the MK&T Railroad there but was eager to put the air traffic controller skills he learned in the Air Force to use. He was hired by the FAA as an air traffic controller in 1959 at the airport in Hutchinson, Kansas. He retired from the FAA in 1989 and went to work as the Director of the Hutchinson Community College Endowment Association. Upon his retirement from there in 1995, he and Betty relocated to Norman, Oklahoma, to be near their daughter and grandson, Tyler, who was born in 1985. Tyler was the apple of his grandfather’s eye and he loved watching him play sports all through childhood and especially cherished watching him play high school basketball.
Jerry’s life passion was sports, especially basketball, football, and baseball. In 1961, he put his passion to use by becoming one of the voices of the Hutchinson High School Salthawks and the Hutchinson Community College Blue Dragons, providing color analysis for all football and basketball games alongside Bob Watson on KWBW Radio. He had a remarkable memory for sports facts and this gained him many fans. He eventually took over the play-by-play duties. He took special pride in being the voice of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Tournament held every year in March in Hutchinson. He spent many years working with the American Legion to put the tournament together and was responsible for the committee overseeing the tournament program. He continued helping with the program via email and phone until his death. He was inducted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Blue Dragon Hall of Fame in 2009. He was also honored on his 50th year of tournament broadcasting with the prestigious NJCAA Appreciation Award in 2014. He continued to return to Hutchinson every March to be a part of the tournament broadcasting crew after moving to Norman until 2016. Once he moved to Norman, he became an avid football and basketball OU fan and had season tickets for many years. He loved attending practices and getting to know the coaches and players.
Jerry was a member of the OU Tip-In Club and McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, parents, and Uncle Fred; and his son, Michael. Jerry is survived by his wife, of the home, his daughter Karen Canfield and husband, Larry, of Blanchard; his grandson Tyler Smith and wife, Tiffeny, of Oklahoma City, and a great-granddaughter, Scottie, who will arrive in June, 2024.
The family will be present to receive friends from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at the Havenbrook Funeral Home in Norman. Memorial Services will begin at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 13, 2024 at McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church, 419 S.University Blvd. in Norman.
Memorials may be made in memory of Gerald Kershaw to the Michael Kershaw Scholarship Fund, c/o Cindy Keast, Director, Hutchinson Community College Endowment Association, [email protected] or McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church.
Online condolences may be shared at www.HavenbrookFuneralHome.com.