Jerry Lee Benjamin
Jerry Lee Benjamin aka Bear was born August 5th 1942 in Rockford, Illinois and passed away on February 14, 2022.
He is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Kay Benjamin, who he met first in the 8th grade and eventually married on July 21st 1962. He graduated from East Rockford High School and went on to attend Illinois State University and Northern Illinois University. He then began his career as a Regional Sales Manager selling machine tool equipment, which led him to Richardson, Texas for a short period before relocating to Mineral Wells, Texas in May of 1972. In 1984, he went back to complete his Bachelors of Science at Tarleton State University and began teaching World Geography at Mineral Wells High School. Knowing he wanted to be a college professor, in 1996 he received his Masters of Science degree in Geography from Texas A&M University (Aggies insert whoops here). He went on to teach at Southwestern Adventist University in Keene, Texas. After retiring from 19 years as an educator, he and Kay moved to Fort Smith, Arkansas where he taught at University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. After 14 years, Jerry and Kay moved back home to Texas.
During his time with us his passions were his family, fishing, photography, boating, being outdoors, traveling and being close to the water. He was a dedicated disciple of the Lord, volunteering his time in ministry in many areas including: serving as a Deacon at First Baptist Church and Indian Creek Baptist Church, volunteering at Mercy Hospital, and volunteering at Community Bible Church in Fort Smith.
He was proceeded in death by his brothers-in-law, Chuck Riley and Steve Sullivan. In addition to his wife Kay, he is also survived by his daughter Becky Farley, her husband Kyle and their children Benjamin, his wife Jasmine, and Erin; his son Brian Benjamin, his wife Dee Dee and their children Jordan, Lauren, Reagan, Joseph and Jocelyn; his sister Judy Sullivan and her sons Sean and Tom; his sister-in-law Shirley Riley and her children, Tim Riley, Scott Riley and his children Kayla and Conner, Greg Riley and his wife Eva and their daughter Violet.
Funeral Services will be held at First Baptist Church in Mineral Wells, Texas at 10:00 AM on February 19, 2022. In lieu, of flowers, donations can be made to South Texas Children’s Home in Beeville, Texas or Happy Hill Farm in Granbury, Texas, or Union Gospel Mission in Fort Worth, Texas.
