Jerry Wayne Finnell

Jerry Wayne Finnell completed the race, held the course and was welcomed into Heaven by his Lord and Savior on January 14th, 2010. Jerry was born on January 19, 1942, in Wichita Falls, Texas, and raised in Holliday, Texas, by Gilbert Lee Finnell and Jewel Louise Spencer. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Gilbert Lee Finnell, Jr.; daughter, Julie Ann Finnell and late wife Terry Nye Finnell. He is survived by Susan Land Finnell, his loving wife, and best friend, for the past 23 years. He lovingly raised nine children, Julie Ann Finnell, Laura Lynn Leisring, Amanda Land Billings (Kevin), James David Finnell, Jennifer Nye Doran (Michael), John Spencer Finnell, Jennifer Robin Land, Natalie Land Henry (Kurt), and Emily Land Furney (Daniel). He was blessed with two grandchildren, Aidan Donald and Grace Elizabeth Henry, and looked forward to the birth of his third. He is also survived by his siblings, Larry Spencer (Pat), Nelda Kay and Mike Robert Finnell. He has always been surrounded with one of the most loving and caring families and extended families, who continue to touch all of our lives. Growing up in Holliday, a small oilfield town in northwest Texas, Jerry set aside the combines and oil rigs and pursued music, which would become his life’s work and passion. He was an accomplished saxophonist and brought music to countless students as a band director for over 40 years. He began his career, from 1964 to 1973, in the Midland/Odessa bands and directed bands in Plano, Texas, at Haggard Middle School, from 1974 to 1975, and Vines High School, from 1976 to his retirement in 2003. He mentored many colleagues and directed some of the most successful high school bands in the State of Texas. By some estimates, Jerry taught music to over 15,000 students throughout his career. His crowning achievement was being inducted into the Texas Bandmasters Hall of Fame in 2008. Universally recognized as a kind and gentle man, Jerry expressed his faith through his servant’s heart. He loved and supported his family with all of his being and conducted the trumpeting angels as they raised him to Heaven. Memorial Services will be Monday, January 18th, 2010, at The Church of the Holy Communion, 17405 Muirfield Drive, Dallas, Texas, 75287, at 1 p.m., with reception to follow at the church Parish Hall. An additional Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, January 21st, 2010, at The Holliday Cemetery, 705 E Olive, Holliday, Texas, 76366, at 11 a.m., with reception to follow at the home of Larry and Pat Finnell in Wichita Falls, Texas. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Church of the Holy Communion or to World Vision, P.O. Box 70359, Tacoma, Wash., 98481-0359. You may leave condolences and obtain directions to the Memorial Services at http://www.tributes.com/Jerry-Finnell. We are better, we are stronger, we are softer, we are kinder, we are more loving for having known and loved you, Papa J. Source: Times Record News, Sunday, January 17, 2010