Jerry Ray Bonebright, age 77, of Albia, died peacefully on Jan. 12, 2024, at the VA hospital hospice ward in Des Moines.
Jerry was the son of Raymond and Wanda Hurley Bonebright. He was born in Unionville, Mo. on Dec. 1, 1946.
As a young boy, Jerry attended a one-room country school- house in Russell, Iowa. Later in his childhood, they moved to Albia where he would graduate from high school. Jerry was always up to something. As a kid, he would tinker in the basement. He built rockets and set them off. He got caught because the smoke started creeping up the stairs. His dad would yell down, “Jerry, what are you doing?” His reply was the same every time he got caught red-handed, “NOTHING!!!” He moved to Albia where he and his dad drove eggs to Chicago. After that, his father opened a family produce business in Albia.
Jerry went into the Marines and was starting OCS when he had to take an honorable discharge to return to Albia due to his father’s death and his mother’s quickly declining health. While in the Marines, he earned several medals including expert marksmanship coming in first out of 200 men. Sometime later, Jerry joined the Navy where he served in the Vietnam War from ’69-’71 aboard the USS Midway. He belonged to the VFW and the Legion in Albia, Iowa. He was a proud member of the NRA. After his service in the Navy ended, he returned to Albia and started a siding business. After that he started driving truck; that was a major part of his life which he did for 40 + years for Stone Container and Ashley Furniture, eventually retiring from Ashley. He traveled all over the continental US; He enjoyed runs to the south and west the most-his favorites were Texas and Colorado.
Do not ask him to run east. He liked going through Nebraska so he could stop at Cabela’s. Jerry enjoyed the outdoors. He loved hunting, fishing, camping, and target practice with guns and bows. He also enjoyed riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle. His creativity and experiments continued into his adult life. You could find him in the garage tinkering and inventing things. If he wasn’t in there, he was building something, fixing things- cars, appliances, plumbing, pretty much anything. He enjoyed taking care of his beautiful lawn with mature trees.
Jerry married Nancy Smith on April 30, 1982, at the First Christian Church in Albia. Nancy and Jerry celebrated 41 years of marriage. They have a son, Scott (Melanie) Smith of Newton, Iowa and a daughter, Shannon (Kevin) Henderson of Johnston, Iowa. Jerry’s grandchildren are: Raven (Jamie) Sook of Ravenswood, West Virginia, Courtney (Trent) McPhillips of Union, Iowa. Breanna Palmeros and Gavin Palmeros of Osceola, Iowa. Shaylee (Adrian Ramirez) Duncan of Colfax, Iowa, Skyler Duncan of Newton, Iowa, Shilo Duncan of Newton, Iowa, and Charlie and Lucille Henderson of Johnston, Iowa. Jerry’s great-grandchildren are: Chayse Sook of Ravenswood, West Virginia, Carter McCloud of Ravenswood, West Virginia, Ellie Sook of Ravenswood, West Virginia. Melina, Zoey, and Shadow McPhillips of Union, Iowa, Zayvin, Zavier, and Ambrose Ramirez of Colfax, Iowa, Autumn Wood of Newton, Iowa, and Leela Ducan of Newton, Iowa.
Jerry is preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Sherry Beth Bonebright in infancy.
Visitation will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 19, 2024, at the Tharp Funeral Home in Albia with Jerry’s family present to greet family and friends.
Interment will be at Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter, Iowa at a later date.