Jerry Neal Hudson Jr.

Jerry left this life unexpectedly at 66 years of age on Tuesday Sept. 23, 2014 while working in his yard in Everett, Wash. He had plans to drive Route 66 before he turned 67 and his family hopes that he is doing that right now.

Jerry was a man of many interests and his joy for trying new things led him through a multifaceted career. He started off at 14 working in farmers' fields and moved on to many endeavors. His career included working in health care, building houses, overseeing a department in a plywood plant, being a private investigator and even working in the information technology field for a while.

He built a Pizza Factory and became a successful businessman who supported his community in many ways. His last job before retirement was as a specialty flour miller in his hometown of Cheney, Wash. Though, to hear Jerry tell it, he never retired, he just moved on to his next position as "flunkie" for "Barbara Anne (a.k.a. Boss)" while he lovingly took care of his still working wife.

Jerry loved the game of football and was an avid Seahawks fan. He was a true blue "12th Man." He wore his jersey with pride and he dedicated a room in his home to the team. He got to wear his new personalized jersey during the last game and you could probably have heard him at the stadium in Seattle when his team won in overtime.

Jerry is survived by Barbara, his wife of 14 too short years; his sons Aaron Hudson (Aleshia Russell), Christopher (Stacy) Hudson and Jesse (Alyssa) Hudson; his daughters Lisa Nordin, Kimberly Hudson (Dale Feliciano) and Anita Hudson (Tim Cook); and his stepchildren Travis (Julia) Cadden; Melanie Cadden (Chad Atwell) and Craig Bowmer; his aunt Shirley Loomer; numerous grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

Jerry leaves this world a better place just for having been here. We were blessed to have him in our lives.

A "Celebration of Jerry's Life" will be held at the Cheney Church of the Nazarene, 338 Betz Road, Cheney on Friday Oct. 3, 2014 at 1 p.m., followed by burial at Spokane Memorial Gardens at 2:30 p.m.