Jerry Ronald Whaley

Jerry Ronald Whaley, age 73, passed away on May 12, 2023 at his home in Fort Cobb, OK.
Jerry was born on March 23, 1950, in Carnegie, Oklahoma to Louis and Juanita Whaley. He attended school in Fort Cobb where he graduated in 1968. He went on to study Architecture at SWOSU in Weatherford, OK, but was drafted into the Navy shortly after in August 1969 where he served 4 years during the Vietnam War and 2 years inactive duty, earning Sailor of the month 4 times, Sailor of the year 2 times, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Medal, Rifle Marksmanship Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal, Sea Service Deployment Medal along with many other honors and achievements.
He married the love of his life, Sandra Jean Petross on April 24, 1970, in Fort Cobb, OK, where they shared a wonderful life together for 53 years.
After his stent in the service, Jerry and Sandra moved back to Fort Cobb from Oceana, Virginia, only a few short miles from where he was raised to raise their family. They went on to have three children, Tony, Travis and Tabi, with whom he loved to spend all his free time. Throughout his life he was a man of many trades. He loved to work with his hands and spend time outdoors. He spent years working at the Fort Cobb Lake from 1973 to 1978, then moved on to working in lumber where he built many houses and ran multiple lumber yards from 1978 to 1990, until disability forced him to step down. At that time, he chose to go back to college and he earned a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1993.
He enjoyed anything that involved being outdoors or being with his family. He loved hunting, fishing and his garden. His garden is where you would find him about 7 months out of the year and then the rest of the time you could probably catch him in a tree stand somewhere with one of his kids or David. The only thing he loved more than his kids was his wife and his grandchildren.
Although Jerry is no longer with us, his memory and legacy is lovingly remembered by his wife, Sandra Whaley; his children; Tony Whaley and wife Shannon, Travis Whaley and wife Starla, and Tabi Smith and husband Terry. His proudest name, Papa, will be cherished by his grandbabies; Clint and wife Denielle Chaney, Chancy and wife Whitney Chaney, Emily and husband Nick Ricca, Hadly and husband Brad Knoll, Teegan Smith, Kennedy Smith and Aubrey Whaley. He was adored by a handful of great grandbabies and a great great grandbaby.
He is also survived by his siblings; Louise Haas, Garry Whaley and wife Diane, Nita Irvine and husband Larry and sister-in-law, Linda Whaley, many special nieces and nephews, as well as a host of other family members and lifelong friends. He will be tremendously missed by all who knew him.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Juanita Whaley; his father and mother-in-law, Leo and Ruby Petross; his brother, Jimmy Whaley; brother-in-law Glenn Haas and brother-in-law Charles Petross.


Funeral Service: 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 16, 2023
First Baptist Church
Fort Cobb, Oklahoma

Visitation: 3:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., Sunday, May 14, 2023
9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., Monday, May 15, 2023
Ray & Martha's Funeral Home
Carnegie, Oklahoma

Interment: Fort Cobb/Oak Grove Cemetery
Fort Cobb, Cemetery


Under the direction of Ray & Martha's Funeral Home, Carnegie, OK