Jerry Lynn McMennamy

It’s with a heavy heart we announce the death of our father Jerry Lynn McMennamy Sr. The man who loved life more than anything was ready to go to his final resting place and be with his beloved wife “Kato”.

Born in 1940 to Orval Lloyd & Dixie (McMeans) in Burkburnett Texas, he learned the meaning of a hard day’s work. His father was a working cowboy in those early years, but as his family grew, they relocated to Amarillo and Orval began working for the railroad as an engineer. Jerry grew up on Lincoln Street, where he could literally watch his dad step off the Madame Queen Engine #5000 and walk home, and thus began his forever love of trains. “There’s something magical about a train,” he would always say. 

Jerry married young and started a family. He proudly served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. He began working for A-1 Electric for his brother but quickly started his own contracting business, MAC-O ELECTRIC. He ran a data processing business in Dallas and built many small businesses. He worked hard and invested wisely and was able to retire at 40 years old. 

The McMennamy family were dedicated cowboys, but Jerry wasn’t interested in horses. He was interested in HORSEPOWER. Jerry ’s first car was a 1940 Ford roadster, which fired up a passion that never ended. He built and owned many cars over the years, Ford and Cadillac the favorites. These weren’t just hobby cars; these were Best in Show cars. He won Best Hot Rod in Los Angeles, Best Caddy at the Good Guys show in Dallas, Best Caddy at Our Lady of Guadalupe show in Amarillo, and too many others to mention. His 1939 candy apple red Cadillac Hearse was a thing of wonder. And when driving it, so was he. 

Jerry married Kay Stubbs, and they moved to her family farm in rural Gray County, where they worked to reclaim the land and build their own heaven on Earth. He cleared meadows for camping, built fishing and swimming ponds with zip lines over them, and only tried to burn down the entirety of the county one time, when what started out as a good brush clearing got a little out of hand. Jerry never did anything halfway. He and Kay hosted dances in the barn and campouts in the meadow, providing the backdrop for some of the best memories a person can have. The happiness there was palpable. 

Music was his other passion. Jerry’s musical weapon of choice was the tuba. He sat in with country, rock and folk bands and helped “bring it on home” with his tuba runs. He loved every type of music there is – country, classical, mariachi, jazz - and if “When the Saints Go Marching In” came on, he was always ready to lead the line. He’d tell you that the best part about music is that it usually leads to dancing, and that was where he shined. Whether leading the Khiva Shrine Bugle Corps as arguably the coolest drum major to ever don a Fez and chaps or just waltzing around the dance floor, music gave Jerry life. He and Kay traveled the country and world to attend dances. They were long-time members of the McLean Country Club dance committee, where they enjoyed music and danced every other Saturday night with friends and family. They traveled in style in their RV to Arizona every winter just so they could dance every day. If it’s true, and there is heaven, they’re undoubtedly having a dance there tonight, and that new tuba player is a riot. 

A 50-year member of the Khiva Shrine and Coors Cowboy Club, Jerry was a larger-than-life figure to so many people, but he was also just Dad, Uncle Jerry, Jerry Mc and the guy who stopped to help me fix my car. His accomplishments were numerous and varied, but his love of life and desire to have fun were his driving force. A good joke and drink with friends made life worth living, and his was a life well lived. We will do our best to follow his path. 

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Darlene Thurman and Nita Quisenberry, favorite big brother Glen McMennamy, and beloved wife Kay. 

Left to carry on his legacy is son Lynn McMennamy and wife Teresa, daughter Carrie Johnson and husband Tommy, daughter Crissie Wisdom and husband Kirk; grandchildren Jamie, Randi, Cody, Kristen, Clay, Cara, Ella and Jax; great grandson Tanner, who had a special place in his heart, and younger great grands, Cooper, Sutton, Sawyer, Livi, Conor, Alexander, Liam and newest baby Sam; and Kay’s niece Lee Erin Koehler among many other nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly. 

Special thanks to caregivers Nyah and Anna, who gave Jerry care, dignity and love at the end of his days so that he could pass to the next life at home. He loved you ladies like family, and we could not have made it without your help.

Services will be at one o’clock on Thursday, the 30th of January, at Boxwell Brothers Ivy Chapel at 2800 Paramount Blvd., Amarillo, TX. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors of Amarillo. 

In lieu of flowers Jerry requested donations be made to Khiva Shrine, your local SPCA or to the Michael J. Fox foundation for Parkinson’s disease research. 

Khiva Shrine. 305 East 5ths Street, Amarillo Texas 79101 or khivashriners@gmail.com

Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD. 21741 or online @give.michaeljfox.org

Amarillo SPCA 11901 S. Coulter St., Amarillo, Texas 79119 (806)622-0555