Jerry Claud Dudley Sr.

Jerry Claud Dudley Sr., of Deport, Texas, passed away peacefully in his home with his family in Los Alamos, New Mexico on October 2, 2021 at the age of 87. Funeral services will be conducted at Shady Grove Cemetery at 1 pm on Saturday October 16th. Honorary pallbearers will be Steve Hill, Billy Parr, Robert Tharp, Bobby Walters, Don Mcknight and Charles Thompson.

He was born on November 30, 1933, to Claudie and Lois Dudley in Clardy, Texas.  After graduating from Deport High School in 1952 he was employed by the Texas Highway Department from 1953 till September 1993 where he retired after 40 years. He joined the United States Army where he served from October 1956 to April 1959.  In June of 1959 he joined the Texas National Guard, 49th Armored Division and retired after 27 years of service on November 30, 1993.  Jerry always talked about the friendship of those that served with him.  He proudly wore his Cold War Veteran vest and cap everywhere he went. He was also known as the T-Shirt Man, where he painted t-shirts by hand for hundreds of customers for many years. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Deport, Texas.

In 2014, he went to Los Alamos, New Mexico to live with his son Jerry. He enjoyed going to the Day Out Program at the Los Alamos Senior Center and enjoyed his days talking with friends that he made there.  In his later years, he suffered from Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease which robbed him of his strength and stamina, it also gave him a softness we treasured. During this time, he taught us patience and allowed us to show him a small measure of the service he had long showed all of us. 

Jerry is survived by his son Jerry Dudley, Jr. (Charla) and daughter Julie Risinger; his grandchildren Colton (Jesse), Justin (Megan), Jaydon, Nathan, Morgan, Mark (Amy), Chris (Trish) Brian and Jimmy (Hali); his great-grandchildren Jaxton, Jensen, Jerimiah, Jonah, Luna, Derek, Mikayla, Alexxis, Brannt, Chloe; and his brother, Roger Wayne Dudley (Linda); and longtime friend Karen Cashion.  He was preceded in death by his parents Claudie and Lois Dudley.

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