Gary Leon Jeter
Obituary for Gary Leon Jeter:
“A Celebration of Life”
Gary Leon Jeter, 72, was born on August 1, 1942 in Enid, Oklahoma to Lois and Horace Jeter and died at Scott and White in College Station, Texas.
Gary is survived by his wife of 5 years, Darlene Jeter; dad, Horace Jeter; daughter Terri Deonne Littlejohn and her husband Rory Littlejohn from Bryan, Texas; son Gary Leon Jeter II and his wife Corrine Jeter from South Padre Island, Texas; daughter Sherri Yvonne Desern and her husband Walter Desern from Brenham, Texas; twelve grandchildren: Isaac, Jacob, and Caleb Littlejohn; Aaron, Kaitlyn, Jaclyn, Jonathan, and Shannon Jeter; Joshua, Cassandra, Michael, and Timothy Desern; and one great-granddaughter, Callie Caye Desern with one on the way, Arriana Avery Desern.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Judith E. Jeter; son, Tracy Don Jeter; and mother, Lois Jeter.
Gary was born and raised in Enid, Oklahoma. He was an active little boy playing all different sports. He played 14 and under baseball and was a very good pitcher. He played basketball at Longfellow Jr. High. His Enid High School basketball team won the 1960 State Championship. He was in the Letterman’s Club and lettered in baseball and basketball. He also was in the Student Council. After high school, he played in a semi-pro baseball league and an All Stars baseball team. He played on the Olvey Electric AAU basketball team, which traveled around the country. One of our best memories was him playing against the Harlem Globetrotters. Throughout his life he was on many sports teams within the community and church leagues including volleyball, softball, and basketball. Later in life he was an avid tennis and golf player.
He married Judith Towry on July 29, 1961 and they were married for 40 years until she went to Heaven in 2001. They had four children, one of whom went to see the Lord soon after he was born. Gary was very involved in his children’s lives, whether it be coaching their sports teams, participating in youth group activities, or teaching them to drive. He married Darlene Jenkins in 2009. They were childhood buddies from Enid and in their 5 years of marriage took several memorable trips, including one to Israel, the Holy Land.
He was a Superintendent of Pipelines for Champlin Petroleum Company for many years until 1983 when he was called by God to serve Him. He became an Associate Minister at the First Christian Church in Kerrville, Texas in 1984. He served the Lord for two years before becoming the Pastor of the First Christian Church in Brenham, TX where he was ordained in April, 2006 and served as Pastor for 28 years.
Rev. Jeter’s funeral is Friday, September 5 at 10:00 a.m. in the First Christian Church, Brenham; Visitation is Thursday, September 4 from 6-8 p.m. in Brenham Memorial Chapel.
Brenham Memorial Chapel, 2300 Stringer Street is in charge of all the arrangements and services.
Gary and Judy were involved in the worship ministry from the 1970's until they were called home. Gary played the piano and guitar although rarely in public. He sang in their choirs and accompanied Judy on duets.
After moving from Enid, OK to Portland, TX in 1971 we began going to First Christian Church in Portland. At the time they were meeting in the local AA building on Sunday mornings due to their building being destroyed the previous year by hurricane Celia.
The very first Sunday my dad noticed a piano with no piano player and quickly volunteered Judy to play. She had not played in several years but stepped up to the challenge. She became the church pianist, choir director, buletin and newsletter creator. The church became our 2nd home as the old Presbyterian Church building was acquired and moved on to several acres on the outskirts of town.
I remember spending many Saturdays working and playing at the church, folding bulletins hot off the old memograph machines. The first several years she used an old manual memograph machine. Eventually we upgraded to an automatic memograph machine. But my sisters and I were the bulletin folders. She then became the youth leader for our church in addition to her other responsibilities.
In my twenties I was living on South Padre Island, TX and had become involved in worship ministry. I had a little 4-track cassette recorder and a little home studio setup in my apartment's bedroom. Gary and Judy came down for a visit for a few days and I was able to record them singing 10 of their favorite songs. Gary sang bass and tenor while Judy played the keyboard and sang the soprano and alto parts.
Enjoy!