Mrs. Jerry Dean Puukuk Richards of Azle, Texas passed away on November 27, 2018 at the age of 82. She was born on February 15, 1936 to Ruth Pannkuk in Leonard, Texas. Jerry was a 1954 graduate of Leonard High School and was active in sports and band. Upon graduation she worked at Collins Radio in Dallas, Texas. She married Joe Richards, Jr. on December 10, 1954 and they were married for 53 years. Upon moving to Lewisville, Texas in 1960, she began to work for Texas Instruments. After moving to Strawn, Texas in 1967, she worked as a book keeper for the local bank. Jerry came to saving faith in Jesus Christ during this time at First Baptist Church, Strawn, Texas. She was a faithful follower of Jesus and a member of the local Baptist churches where she lived. Her family moved to Gatesville, Texas in 1968 and she began to work at the Gatesville State School for Boys. She worked there until it closed in 1979. The Texas Department of Correction purchased the boy’s school and opened a women’s correctional facility. She began to work for the correctional facility as a guard and rose to the rank of Lieutenant before retiring after 16 years.
Jerry is survived by her brother, Bob Pannkuk, and his wife, Peggy, of Leonard, Texas; a daughter, Pamela Dene Richards, of Greenville, Texas and a son, Jody Richards, and his wife, Connie, of Azle, Texas. She has 5 grandchildren: Rodney Ross and his wife, Lauren, of Tom Bean; Lori Johnston and her husband, Chris, of Leonard, Texas; Joe Richards of Azle, Texas; Maddison Richards of Canyon Lake, California and Reese Richards and his wife, Kelly, of Wichita, Kansas. She has 6 great grandchildren: Chance Brown, Logan Johnston, Rylan Ross, McKenzie Ross, Paxton Ross and Lily Richards. She has a niece, Carla Becknell, and her husband, Ronnie, of Caddo Mills and a nephew, Bobby Pannkuk, and his wife, Libby of Leonard, Texas.
She is preceded in death by her mother, Ruth Tillery Drury, and her husband Joe Richards, Jr.
A graveside service will be held at 10:00 am, Monday, December 3, 2018 at the Leonard Cemetery. Her son, Jody Richards, will officiate. Family visitation and viewing will be from 8:30-9:30 a.m. at the Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home Chapel at Leonard.