Jerry Leo Whaley joined our Lord, Sept. 15, 2018 at his home in Reno after battling heart disease. By Jerry’s side was his longtime girlfriend and caregiver Molly McGuire.
Jerry was born Apr.l 29, 1944 in Tulare, Calif. to Sterling Leo Whaley and Dorothy Deon (Walker) Whaley. Jerry was the oldest of three sons. He was raised in and graduated from Moorpark, Calif. He moved with his family to Hawthorne in 1963. Jerry served in the National Guard during the 1960’s. In 1967 he married Shirley Geisinger, their daughter Tina was born in 1968. His greatest joy was his beautiful daughter Tina and his grandchildren. Jerry worked at the Naval Ammunition Depot for 14 years. He would later marry Sandy Gunn Wolfe in 1975. Her son Brian Wolfe Mattson would always be considered part of the Whaley family. In 1989 Jerry married the love of his life Linda Joyce Lofgren. They would spend the next 21 years together until her death in 2010. Jerry held several jobs including bartending. He found his true calling as a Mason, where he took pride in his creativity.
Jerry had many hobbies, in the 1970s he raced stock cars with his youngest brother John at the original Walker Lake Racing Associaton dirt track on Highway 95. Following in his parent’s footsteps he was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hunting, boating and fishing. He would eventually move to Lake Havasu, where he loved catching striped bass. Although he gave up stock car racing, Jerry enjoyed restoring and selling cars and trucks, another way to express his creative side.
Jerry is survived by his only child, Tina (Randy) Canady of Hawthorne; grandchildren: Brittany and Colby Canady of Reno; his youngest brother, John (Margaret) Whaley of Surprise, Ariz.; several nieces and nephews as well as great nieces and nephews. He will be greatly missed.
Jerry was proceeded in death by his father, Sterling Leo Whaley 1996; mother, Dorothy Deon (Walker) Whaley 2010; his wife, Linda Joyce Whaley 2010; younger brother: Jack D. Whaley, Sr. 2016 and his stepson, Brian Wolfe Mattson 2017.
The family will hold a private memorial service. In the interest of education Jerry generously donated his body to science so future medical students may help others.
