Gerald "Jerry" Robert Sturdevant (87), of Smithfield, NC, passed away peacefully on Monday March 24, 2025 at home. Jerry was born on June 05,1937 in Tacoma Washington.

Jerry was survived by his wife of 21 years, Kathleen; his children Robert Sturdevant (wife Tonya) in NV; Richard Sturdevant, Sr. in WA; Pamela Pearsall (husband Bob) in AZ; Beverly Granillo (husband Leo) in AZ, Gilbert Sturdevant in AZ; and his Step-children: Theresa Viehmeyer (husband David) in NJ, Jeannette Manning (husband Gregory) in NJ; John Patrick in NJ; Thomas Patrick (wife Stacey) in NJ; Ruth Callon (husband Thomas) currently in Japan; Kyle Patrick in NJ and Trish Misura (husband Frank) in NJ.  He was a grandfather to 36 grandchildren, and blessed with numerous great-grandchildren & great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Tammy Breen (husband Collin) in MT.

He had a great admiration for his mother Margaret Ruth Ecker & his grandfather George Ecker from WA - he loved to share stories about them both.

Jerry was a proud member of the Air Force and Army Reserve.  After his service his many careers and interests took him across the country.  His careers included building radar devices & working on the Alaskan pipeline for GE, home construction, photography, electronics, freelance draftsman/architect, home improvement retail, handyman, motel management & sheriff officer.

He loved his time with family and friends. Enjoyed people watching, dad jokes, model planes & cars, watching planes take off, listening to Elvis, Bojangles dates, family taco nights, banana pudding and of course teaching his grandchildren all of the things they shouldn't be doing to get the look from their mother & grandmother (i.e. sneaking food to the dog or distance spitting).

He was a long-term member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This membership led him to New Jersey and Kathleen.  This is also where he has met and kept many treasured friends.

At this time, we will be scheduling a Celebration of Life in June to make sure to give his extensive family and friends an opportunity to attend. Jerry chose to be cremated so he can travel across the country again.

Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and love of God and of all men.  Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life. ~ 2 Nephi 31: 20