Gerald Leroy Reynolds, 92, King City, MO passed away Saturday, November 9, 2024 at a St. Joseph, MO nursing home.
Gerald was born in Gentry County, Missouri on July 2, 1932, to George and Bertha (Stuart) Reynolds. He attended school in the Black Oak district of Gentry County and although he was not able to complete high school due to family matters, he proudly earned his GED certificate in 1991. His early career started at Dannen Mills feed plant in St Joseph, MO. In the winter of 1952, Gerald met Lois Wyckoff at a dance in King City and a few short months later convinced her to marry him on August 29, 1953. He managed to behave (just enough) that Lois stuck around for the next 70 years until her death December 24, 2023.
The couple moved to King City in 1959 where he farmed by day and continued working at the mill by night, remaining there until he was forced to quit due to grain dust affecting his lungs. After the mill, Gerald was always a farmer first and was chosen State Farm Family in 1972 and worked various jobs including King City R-1 School as custodian, bus driver, painter, King City Lumber and carpenter work with Gerald Owen of Maysville. In 1986 he started with Heartland Hospital and retired from there in 1996.
After retirement, Gerald stayed busy traveling with Lois to Alaska twice, the New England States and the Northwest Coast. Fishing, hunting, camping and Black Powder Rendezvous. He was a long-standing member of Grand River Muzzleloaders and the King City Hammer Memorial United Methodist Church. He also did volunteer work at the King City Senior Center which earned him the Missouri Lieutenant Governor’s Senior Service Award
Gerald’s sense of humor and mischievous behavior always managed to win people over and we are not kidding when we say he joked with everyone to his last day. He was a hard-working man, wonderful husband and the best dad. He thoroughly enjoyed his grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great granddaughter.
He was preceded in death by his wife and parents as well as sisters, Lorraine Taylor, Georgia Arlene Scott, Lois Birdsell and brother Larry Reynolds and son-in-law, Danny Barber.
Gerald is survived by daughters, Terry (Craig) DeBord, Becky (Terry) Grable, Julie Barber and son, Garry (Lou Piper) Reynolds; grandchildren, Brandy (Toby) Graham, Hillary (Lee) Worley, Travis (Amber) DeBord, Misty MacLeod (Ryan Lillard), Jeremy Grable, Tyson (Alanda) Rathfon and Danay Majors along with
12 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. He is also survived by his sister Lila Hinkle and numerous nieces and nephews.
Gerald has been cremated under the direction of Roberson Funeral Home, King City, MO.
The family will hold a Celebration of Life on December 7, 2024 from 1:00-3:00 pm at Hammer Memorial UMC, King City, MO. A private family inurnment will be at a later date.
