Jerry Lee Gant, of Vienna, was born on June 28, 1940, at Buick, in Reynolds County, Missouri, a son of Mont Esco and Byrtle Alice (Lowrance) Gant, and departed this life at 3:36 a.m., on Sunday, November 17, 2019, at his residence in Vienna. He had been in failing health for some time and had attained the age of 79 years, 4 months, and 19 days.

Jerry was united in marriage on July 15, 1961, at Vienna, to the former Miss Dorothy Ellen Eads, and to this union, five daughters were born.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church, Vienna, and enjoyed coaching softball, fishing, and spending time with his family especially his grandkids and great-grandkids.  During his working life, Jerry had been employed in timber work cutting wood, and in 1995, was employed by Scholastics, Inc., Jefferson City, in custodial work until his retirement.

Those left to mourn the passing of Jerry include: His wife, Dorothy, of the home in Vienna; his five daughters, Tammy Clark, Toni Willoughby, Penny Foster (Tim), Lisa Asher, and Sara Briscoe (Joe), all of Vienna; his fifteen grandchildren, Rocky Clark (Myra), Jefferson City, April Mertens (Matt),  Jefferson City, Matt Clark (Tara), Dixon, Tyler Willoughby (Shayla), Vienna, Misty Weakly (Tim), Vienna, Nicholas Willoughby, Vienna, Dustin Foster, Dixon, Amanda Foster (Shane), Vienna, Jerrica Foster (Taylor), Rolla, Brandon Youngs (Cassie), Vienna, Amber Pickering (Tommy), Vienna, Magan Marshall, Vienna, Dillon Briscoe (Taylor), Camdenton, Paige Briscoe (Dylan), Vienna, and Karleigh Reeves-Briscoe, Vienna; his twenty-seven great-grandchildren, Kody, Kolin, Destiny, Naomi, Roshon, Keenan, Nevaeh, Brayden, Easten, Macklen, Alijah, Brookelynn, Ava, Oaklyn, Jayce, Lainey, Dylan, Easton, Landon, Lakayla, Kieghlyn, Sahvanna, Leium, Chase, Kennadi, Michael, and Oakley; two sisters, Imogene Morton, Houston, and Sandra Ragan (Robert), Jefferson City; nephews and nieces with greats as well; and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Mont, on January 16, 1983; his mother, Byrtle, on February 20, 1993; one brother, Cloris "Fuz" Gant, on November 29, 2015; two sisters, Bernadine Ferguson on July 3, 1999, and Wilmetta Finn on October 12, 2002; one son-in-law, Randy Clark, on January 31, 2019; one granddaughter, Mallory Foster, on October 2, 1992; and one granddaughter-in-law, Brittany Hardy-Clark, on November 14, 2013.

Visitation for Mr. Jerry Gant will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. p.m., on Wednesday, November 20, 2019, and from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m., on Thursday, November 21, 2019, in the First Baptist Church, 1004 Highway 63 South, Vienna, Missouri  65582.

Funeral services for Mr. Jerry Gant will be conducted at 12:00 p.m., on Thursday, November 21, 2019, in the First Baptist Church, 1004 Highway 63 South, Vienna, Missouri  65582, with Pastor Chris Slocum officiating.

Interment will be in the Vienna Public Cemetery by Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home in Vienna.  Pallbearers for Mr. Gant will be Rocky Clark, Tyler Willoughby, Matt Clark, Dustin Foster, Nick Willoughby, Dillon Briscoe, Brandon Youngs, and Tommy Pickering, and honorary pallbearers will be Joe Briscoe, Tim Youngs, Daren Eads, Dale Eads, Dale Struemph, and Shane Ragan.

Memorial contributions in memory of Mr. Jerry Gant are suggested by his family to the First Baptist Church, Vienna, with envelopes available at the church or in care of Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home, P.O. Box 250, Vienna, Missouri  65582.