Jerry Horn

Jerry Lee Horn, age 84 passed away at his home in Snyder, TX on Saturday, October 5, 2024. A graveside service will be held Sunday, October 13, 2024 at 2 o’clock PM at Bookout Cemetery in Dermott, TX. A visitation will be held Sunday, October 13, 2024 from 12:30 to 1:30 PM at Bell-Cypert-Seale Funeral Home prior to the service. Arrangements are under the direction of Bell-Cypert-Seale Funeral Home.

He was born June 27, 1940, in Springer, NM to O.M.(Meb) Horn and Nitha Fisher Horn. Jerry was preceded in death by his wife Mary Jones Horn, a daughter Glorieta Horn Goswick (Donnie), a daughter Debbie Horn Hightower (Melvin), and a grandson Cody Alan Wesberry. He leaves behind a sister Patsy Horn Moon (Larry) of Las Vegas, NM, a brother C. Dean Horn (Linda) of Winnemucca, NV, a daughter Charlene Horn Edwards of Midland, TX, a daughter Pam Horn of Snyder, TX, and his Aunt Ruby Jane Fisher Blackman (Harold) of Harrison, AR. He also leaves behind 9 grandchildren, many great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

During Jerry’s growing up years he worked alongside his Dad on several large cattle ranches in northeastern New Mexico. He got his first horse when he was 8 years old and participated in all ranching activities such as breaking horses, working cattle, branding, shipping, etc.

As a young child he was a bit mischievous and could always laugh at himself and others. A familiar story was when he was around 2 years old, his mother got him dressed for church and expected him to stay clean while she finished getting ready. A few minutes later, she found him sitting in the middle of a mud puddle in his Sunday clothes. Another time he and one of his 4-year-old cousins accidentally started a prairie fire kicking a barrel filled with hot coals down a slope. They were sent to bring a bucket of water to help put the fire out but on the way back to the fire, the bucket kept getting heavier, so they would stop and pour out a little water. The bucket was almost empty when they got back to the fire which had then been put out with the help of neighbors.

Jerry was always first to ride the milk pen calves with his cousins and his Aunt Ruby who was only 2 years older. One time a couple of his cousins thought they killed him when he was thrown off a calf and had the wind knocked out of him. As was typical, Jerry always came up smiling.

After graduating from Harding County High School, he served in the Army Reserve, drove a school bus, and worked at various other jobs around the Roy community. He was a good dependable worker so jobs usually came to him. He would work by the hour, day, week, month, or longer depending on the job. During that time he worked at various ranches, he drove trucks, did mechanic work, cut hay along the highways, helped drill wells, helped his Dad on the ranch, broke and trained horses, he had cows of his own which meant he leased grazing land, and did a little farming. He served as the assistant brand inspector for Harding County.

It was during this time that he married which brought him a ready-made family of 4 daughters. He also started working for Carbonic Chemical Corp, (the Dry Ice Plant) as a mechanic and then as a big rig truck driver.

Eventually in the summer of 1969, he transferred to Snyder, TX as the manager of Carbonic Chemical Corp’s Clorine Plant. He worked there for 10 to 12 years before he started working for the County Road Department doing blade work, road maintenance, hauling asphalt, and driving trucks. During those years, he worked in the evenings and weekends doing extra work and farming.

When Jerry relocated with his family from Roy, NM to Snyder, TX, his love for country living brought him to acquire a small farm which he took care of after work hours. He enjoyed driving and working on tractors and other farm equipment. Work was a friend of Jerry’s.

Family was very important to Jerry. He was always willing to go the extra mile to provide support for his loved ones. He had an amazingly kind, loving heart. He loved babies and children no matter their age. They always felt safe in his lap which was like a magnet for them.

Some of Jerry’s fondest memories were from singing gospel music in the Baptist Church choir and quartets, riding horseback and hunting deer in the Canadian River canyons with his Dad and friends, community and family gatherings that included good food and toe-tapping music, and more.

Jerry understood or could usually figure out how things worked which led him to being able to fix or repair most anything whether it was a motor or a windmill tower.

As Jerry’s health failed in his later years, his life was made easier by having the help and assistance of devoted family members.

Jerry accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior at the age of 12 years at the New Salem Baptist Church in Abbott, NM and was baptized in Abbott Lake. He lived out his life as an example to all who knew him by doing what was right even when it was difficult. All who knew him; loved and respected him. He had a big heart of gold guided by his Christian values.