Jerry Nelson Tunnel

Jerry Nelson Tunnell, age 83, of Mineral Wells, TX, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021, and is now reunited with his wife, Kay, who passed away earlier this year.

A memorial service was held at First United Methodist Church of Mineral Wells on Monday morning, Dec. 6, 2021. Interment took place in Earth, TX, on Tuesday morning, Dec. 7, 2021.

Jerry was born on Oct. 18, 1938 in Amherst, TX, to the late Eldon Oliver and Lois Maxine Cook Tunnell. He grew up in the Springlake-Earth area and graduated from Springlake-Earth High School in 1957. He was voted Most Handsome in his graduating class and immediately after graduation married Loretta Kay Haberer on June 1, 1957. Jerry and Kay made their home and raised their family in Littlefield, TX. Jerry was born a farmer and farmed all of his life. In 1983, he began operating a Goodyear Tire Store in Beeville, TX and commuted back to Littlefield on weekends to be with his family. In 1984 they joined him in Beeville and in 1994, he began teaching for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. In 2004 following his retirement from TDCJ, Jerry and Kay moved to Mineral Wells.

Jerry was raised in the Methodist Church and he was a member of First United Methodist Church of Mineral Wells. Jerry loved his family. He delighted in attending his children’s and later his grandkids’ sporting events. Most Sundays he would listen to both Ethan’s and Kevin’s (grandsons) sermons after attending his own church service. He and Kay had enjoyed travelling the United States and had set foot in all fifty states. He was a Palo Pinto General Hospital auxiliary volunteer from 2014 until 2018 and thoroughly enjoyed helping others.

Jerry was preceded in death by his wife, Kay; his parents, Oliver and Maxine; and his brothers, Larry and Gene.

Jerry is survived by his children, Tonya Place and husband, Allen, Vicki Gregory and husband, Eddie, David Tunnell, and Kelli Huseman and husband, Troy; grandchildren, Ashley, Amber, Nick, Shea, McKamie, Ethan, Kevin, Kaylee, Kenzi, Brady, Carson; and six great grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 301 NE First Street, Mineral Wells, TX 76067.