Jerry Ray Waters, 79, passed away September 30, 2019 after a long and courageous battle with dementia at the Clearwater Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, in Clearwater, Kansas.  The son of Albert and Saletha Waters, he was born in Harper County Kansas on October 1, 1939.  He retired after 34 years as a maintenance supervisor for Carey Salt Corporation.

On September 20, 1966, he married the love of his life, Judy Arlene Kempton in Hutchinson, Kansas.  She survives of the home after 54 years of marriage.

Jerry was a veteran of the United States Army, an avid NASCAR fan and loved traditional country western and bluegrass music.  His family knew him as a " jack of all trades " where he could create and build anything from wood to metal.  He blessed his family with many projects over the years.  You could always find him in his beloved 1944 Ford pickup at every Hutchinson parade.  A dedicated family man, he was always there for his family and there wasn't anything he wouldn't do for them.  He made sure there was a family vacation every year.  This continued with Judy after the children were grown and away from the home.

Jerry is preceded in death by son, Michael Grindley, brother, Billy Waters and both parents.

Other survivors include: daughters, Paula Plum, RaeLynn ( Jon ) Lamkin; son, Charles ( Susan ) Grindley; 3 brothers, David ( Rosalie ), Warren ( Barbara ), John ( Reatha ) Waters; 4 sisters, Darlene ( Bill ) Geer, Alberta ( Buddy ) Wolf, Letha Snow, and Barbara Diaz; 7 grandchildren, Misti ( Keith ) Lombard, Thomas ( Patricia ) Plum, Andrea Frye, Jerry Wayne Grindley,  Cara Grindley, Katherine ( Cole Weast ) Lamkin, and Amanda Lamkin; 4 great-grandchildren, Addison Plum, Asher Plum, Beau Frye, and Payzley Weast.

A celebration of life for family and friends will be held Friday, October 18, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. at Old Mission-Heritage Funeral Home, 528 North Main Street, Hutchinson, Kansas with full military honors.  In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Alzheimer's Association and left in care of the funeral home.