Jerry Lynn Strawn

Jerry Lynn Strawn, 79 of Panhandle, Texas, passed away peacefully on September 17, 2020 following a long battle with cancer.

Jerry was born June 1, 1941, in Littlefield to Norvell and Doris Strawn. Jerry’s life was full of adventure as a husband, father, son, brother, friend, custom harvester, farmer, rancher, cowboy, team roper, golfer, story-teller, and his 24 years as Carson County Commissioner. He was married just over 60 years to the love of his life, Sharon Kay Hartzog Strawn.

Jerry graduated from Bovina High School in 1959 and enjoyed putting fear and trepidation into opposing football and basketball opponents. But more importantly, this is where he met his special Kay-Baby. Jerry and Kay married in Bovina on August 7, 1960, before moving to Lubbock to attend college. He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Agronomy in 1965 at Texas Tech University, where he excelled on their Crops Judging Team. Jerry often quoted information he learned in college and could relate and translate those things to real life. He was also quite the word-smith and an excellent teacher on the farm, in county business, and in life in general.

Jerry worked his way through college, custom harvesting from South Texas to the Canadian border in the summers and working weekends on the family farm. Jerry and Kay farmed for a few years in Bovina and Stratford and then moved their family to Panhandle in 1971, farming west of town on FM 293. The family loved their new community and Jerry particularly loved serving the public.

He is well-remembered for coaching local kids basketball and baseball and he served on the Cemetery Association Board and in several positions with the Panhandle Country Club. Jerry became County Commissioner in 1986. As an active working commissioner, he also fought fires and performed disaster recovery alongside multiple local fire departments. He had a deep respect for these dedicated men and women and wanted to assist in any way possible.

As many know, Jerry loved to tell stories about his adventures and observations and everyone loved hearing them. He had an exceptional memory and retained amazing details that surprised and entertained everyone. He made friends quickly. People from all walks of life and throughout the state appreciated his stories, knowledge, and friendship. Jerry loved to make people laugh and said of himself, that he was, “Colourful with a “u’.” What pleased him even more was his family. He said he never could have had a better wife, in-laws, kids, grandkids and all of their spouses. He especially loved knowing his first great grandchild, Paddy.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, and his son, Charlie Lynn Strawn, of Claude, who passed away suddenly in March.
He is survived by his wife, Kay; his son, Mike and Joan Strawn, Cedar Park; daughter, Karen Strawn, Panhandle, daughter-in-law, Millie Strawn, Claude; his granddaughters, Melissa and Hunter Shelley, Spearman, Dixi Strawn and fiancee Dan Villegas, Pflugerville, and grandsons, Jerry and Sheridan Strawn, Lubbock, Charles Gordon Strawn, Claude, and Caleb and Meagan Strawn, Austin. Jerry has one great-grandson, Patrick Shelley of Spearman. He is also survived by his brother, Bill and Verna Strawn of Spearman; sister Vicki and Leon Richards of Dimmitt; and sister Judy Herring of Canyon, as well as sisters and brothers-in law, Dixi and Dick Jones, Pueblo, Colo., and Roy and Trudy Hartzog, Bovina; and many nieces and nephews, who he so loved.

Funeral services were held Saturday, September 19, 2020, at the First United Methodist Church in Panhandle with Pastor Gene Weinette officiating. Burial followed in Panhandle Cemetery under the direction of Minton Chatwell Funeral Directors of Panhandle.

In lieu of flowers his memory may be honored with a gift to the City of Panhandle EMS Dept. P.O. Box 129, Panhandle, Texas 79068 or to the City of Panhandle Fire Department, P.O. Box 129, Panhandle, Texas 79068. Please write that it is a charitable donation in memory of Jerry Strawn on the memo line of the check.