Jerry D. Page

Jerry D. Page, 79, of Otterville, passed away Saturday, December 2, 2023, at Bothwell Regional Health Center.

Born March 26, 1944, in Pettis County, he was the third of six children of Jewell Dennis and Beulah Mildred (Cook) Page. 

Jerry grew up in rural Otterville and graduated from Otterville High School in 1962.

On April 6, 1968, in Otterville, he married Cheryl Ann Landreth. Together they purchased their first, and forever home in 1974. Here they were blessed to raise their three children.

Jerry professed his faith in Jesus and was baptized at the First Baptist Church of Otterville on Easter Sunday 1993. He enjoyed his Sunday School class at the church.

He worked for Bixler Gas Company in Otterville and Tipton for nearly 40 years, retiring from MFA Oil in 2005. The Bixler family was very special to him and still is. He thought of his co-workers as family and was remembered to this day by his customers as someone they could count on.

Upon his retirement he began working in the funeral business alongside his son and for the last eighteen years has been an integral part of the staff at Heckart Funeral Home, and more recently the Page-Dady Funeral Homes. He found great purpose in life serving his community through this work. His kindness brought great comfort to the families he served. He also served on the I.O.O.F. Cemetery board.

Jerry was a jack-of-all-trades and master of all. He could fix or build anything, and it was always done to perfection. He always had a big garden, and enjoyed turkey hunting and fishing, but most of all enjoyed barbecuing. He, his daughters, and grandchildren competed in barbecue competitions as the team Long Branch BBQ. He also enjoyed morning coffee with his friends at Hardee's east.

His grandkids were the highlight of his life; nothing brought him more joy than being a PaPa. Family was everything to him and he enjoyed being with them at least weekly, if not more often, for “Family Dinner.”

Over the last several years, he battled a weak heart and everyday life became more difficult, but he never stopped giving his all. Whatever he set out to do, he did it to the best of his ability. He was a hard worker and a reliable dad and friend. He will be remembered for his wisdom, his warm smile, his contagious laugh, and his steady presence.

Surviving are his wife of 55 years, Cheryl, of the home; two daughters, Cheri Gorrell (Rodney Collins), of Otterville, and Julie Mateja (Marc), of Otterville; a son, Jeffrey Page (Megan), of Sedalia; eight grandchildren, Ali Parkhurst (Jack), Evan Gorrell (Ryan), Emily Gorrell, Mason Mateja (Kit), Jonah Page, Jude Page, Tori Petree (Garret) and Natalie Schoen (Karstan); three great-grandchildren, Maverick, Beckham and Elowyn Parkhurst; a special great-nephew, Krew Petree; two sisters, Mary Etta Streeter and Susie Blankenship (Larry), both of Otterville; two brothers, Jimmy Page (Kathy), of Otterville, and Jack Page (Carol), of Clinton; sister-in-law, Tammy Schoen (Randy), of Otterville; and brothers-in-law, Ron Landreth, of Mexico, and Lanny Landreth (Patty), of Warsaw.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Judy Young; a great-grandson, Beau Parkhurst; his father and mother-in-law, Lawrence and Bonnie Landreth; and a brother-in-law, Larry Don Landreth.

The family will receive friends from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at Heckart Funeral Home in Sedalia.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, December 6, 2023, at First Baptist Church of Otterville, with Rev. Dan Hankins, Rev. Perry Wolfe and Rev. Russ Slocum officiating.

Casket bearers will be Randy Schoen, Marc Mateja, Rodney Collins, Jack Parkhurst, Ryan Myers, Garret Petree, Karstan Luchini and Jim Schoen. 

Honorary bearers will be David Bixler, Connie Hofstetter, Jeanne Whitney, Lloyd Meyer, Kays Harrison, Jesse Taylor, Lenny Benny, E.H. Fowler and Rick Holem.

Burial will be in I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Otterville.

Memorials are suggested to I.O.O.F. Cemetery or First Baptist Church of Otterville.

The family wishes to thank the doctors and staff of Bothwell Regional Health Center for the wonderful care they gave to Jerry.