Jerry D. Lavender

Mr. Jerry D. Lavender, age 80, of Benton, Kentucky, died Tuesday, January 28, 2014 at Baptist Health in Paducah, Kentucky.

Jerry was born November 9, 1933 in Murray, Kentucky to the late Tommy B. and Hilda Page Lavender.

He was a 1952 graduate of Murray High School and attended Murray State University, majoring in Chemistry. He served in the Army Reserves from 1956 to 1964 while being stationed at Ft. Chaffee, Arkansas during the Berlin Crises. He was the chief officer of training recruits on the rifle range. He was worked for Air Products in Calvert City, Kentucky from January 1956 till his retirement in 1986; he continued to work with DeGussa Corporation until he retired permanently in 1997. He enjoyed gardening and building model airplanes.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years Dorothy Ann Farris Lavender of Benton, Kentucky; they were married January 27, 1956 in Corinth, Mississippi with Nancy Thompson and Gene Williams serving as attendants. He is also survived by one son, Mark Alan Lavender of Chicago, Illinois; one aunt, Mildred Bell of Murray, Kentucky; and his beloved dog, Odie.

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 am Friday, January 31, 2014 in the Murray Memorial Gardens. Rev. David Atkinson will officiate. Visitation will be held from 4:00 – 7:00 pm Thursday, January 30, 2014 at the J. H. Churchill Funeral Home.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Marshal County Humane Society, P.O. Box 531, Benton, Kentucky 42025 or the charity of choice. Online condolences may be made www.thejhchurchillfuneralhome.com.

J.H. Churchill Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements