Jerry Robert Standerfer was born on May 8, 1929, in McKinney, Texas. He was the fifth of eleven children born to parents Armpie and Maggie Standerfer, and he attended school at Rheas Mill (Prosper, Texas). Jerry became a Christian at age nineteen after attending Rheas Mill Baptist Church where the young man was told pretty women would be present. Yet despite the abundance of attractive women, he didn’t find the one his heart was searching for until 1953. Jerry was a 24-year-old farmer’s son when he met the love of his life, Mary Joyce Dean, a 16-year-old farmer’s daughter. Their love story is one fairy tale that actually came true.
At a very young age, Jerry helped his father with farming until Uncle Sam drafted him into the U.S. Army in February 1954. After a few months, Jerry took leave from the Army and married Mary Joyce on June 19, 1954 at Rheas Mill Baptist Church. When stationed at Fort Polk Louisiana, Jerry once hitch-hiked 330 miles to see wife. When he was stationed at Fort Devens in Boston Massachusetts, he noticed the other soldiers had their wives with them. He promptly took leave, scooped up his 17-year-old bride and brought her back to live with him. Mary Joyce had never left Collin County, Texas, and was now hundreds of miles from home. She grew up fast with the love of the handsome man with movie star good looks and twinkling blue eyes. Together Jerry and Mary Joyce built a life, defeating all the odds based on their meager backgrounds. They also raised four children: Mellie, Cindy, Deb and Mike. That strong legacy they built also extends to eleven grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.
Jerry was fervent about farming and firmly believed it was God’s calling for his life. He was determined to be successful, despite very humble beginnings. His wife would often say he literally pulled himself up with his bootstraps. He began his farming career share-cropping for other land owners and eventually secured his own farmland. He primarily farmed land in Collin County, Texas, growing a variety of crops. For over fifty years, Jerry served on various farming-related organizations including as officer of Collin County Farm Bureau, director of Prosper Co-op Gin, president of McKinney Young Farmers Chapter, secretary of Rheas Mill Water District, officer of Collin County Blackland Income Growth, officer of the Entomology Committee and as treasurer of the Prosper Community Circle. In 1965, Jerry was awarded “Collin County Farmer of the Year,” and the following year in 1966 he was named “Collin County Soil Conservationist of the Year.”
Jerry was a servant of God and he dedicated his life to the church. He was ordained as a deacon at the Rhea’s Mill Baptist Church in 1975 and served in that capacity for thirty-five years. He was the music leader, taught Sunday school and served on numerous personnel and building committees. He later served as a deacon at Calvary Baptist Church until 2022. Jerry was a Prosper Independent School District (PISD) board member from 1975 to 1987, serving as President for nine years. In approximately 1985-86, Jerry led the legal battle to defend the Prosper school district lines against consolidation with McKinney ISD. The redistricting case was finally settled by the Texas Supreme Court, allowing PISD to become what it is today with over 22,000 students and over 20 schools.
Jerry was a devoted husband, Daddy, Gampa, son, brother, and friend to many. He was rarely separated from his wife Mary Joyce, who never left his side. Not only during good days and health, but also during his illness. Jerry was a mentor to his children and grandchildren, passing his ambition, determination and passion for life to each of them. He was a bit stingy with those crystal blue eyes with only a few inheriting the gene, yet he would always comment how much he loved seeing Mary Joyce’s brown eyes on the faces of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Jerry enjoyed collecting antique farm machinery, taking road trips to secure a John Deere, Ford, Case or International tractor. While his accomplishments in life were abundant, he would never attempt to boast about the hard road he had taken to success. For that reason, his proud wife and children share his amazing story of rags to riches, to ensure he is remembered for his strength and courage, and a life dedicated to providing for his family and serving others.
On a Monday afternoon with the rain falling, the farmer knew the crops he had planted would flourish, and he could put the tractor in the shed. His cattle and other livestock were bedded down. He had faithfully loved his wife, raised a family, worked the land well and followed his Lord and Savior. It was the end of the long day and he could lay down and rest his head. Yet he continued to fight for just one more minute with the wife he had loved dearly for 70 years and all of his children and grandchildren. It was not until his wife gently whispered into his ear, “I will always love you. You can go home now,” that Jerry took his last breath on earth at 93 years of age. That beloved farmer, Jerry Standerfer, then went home to his Heavenly Father on October 24, 2022, with his family surrounding his bed, praying and singing his favorite gospel music. We find peace knowing he is in the arms of Jesus. His labor on earth is done and we will close the gate, honoring and treasuring every memory we were fortunate to receive from him.
Jerry is survived by his beautiful wife of 68 years, Mary Joyce Standerfer; his children and their spouses, Mellie and Jimmy Sibley of Midlothian Texas, Cindy and Rod Beene of Plano TX, Deb and Scott LaCroix of Canon City CO, and Mike and Julie Standerfer of Boerne TX; grandchildren and spouses, Justin and Toni Sibley, Mindy and Shawn Sargent, Casey Gautney, Nathan and Kellie Sibley, Landon and Mallory Sibley, Lauren and Chris Windsor, Preston and Bethanney Standerfer, Devin Standerfer and fiancée Maggie, Chaz Osborn, Scott Standerfer and Jeremy Osborn; great grandchildren Julian Herrera (Sargent), Jaelyn Herrera (Sargent), Lincoln Sibley, Bennett Sibley, Andie Sibley, Eva Sibley, Sadie Sibley, Raya Gautney, Avery Sibley and Charlotte Windsor; sister Betty Sue Dowden of Mesquite TX; and many dear family and friends.
The family will receive friends at Turrentine Jackson Morrow Funeral Home, 2525 N Central Expressway, Allen, TX 75013, on Friday, October 28, 2022, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 PM. Funeral Services will be held at the same location on Saturday, October 29, 2022, at 10:00 AM with Brother Raymond Horne officiating. While we hold dear flowers as a beautiful symbol of his life, we also appreciate donations to the Calvary Baptist Church Building Fund in Anna, Texas (https://www.calvaryanna.com/ ).
The service will be live streamed at https://celebrationoflife.tv/blog/jerry-robert-standerfer. After the service, the recorded live stream will be available at the same link location.