On November 1 ^st , 2022, surrounded by love and with his wife, Sarah, and dogs Smokie and Petie at his side, Jerry Jett slipped his earthly bonds, hopped on a longboard, and surfed his last wave into an ocean of everlasting light.  Born February 4 ^th , 1953, in Downey, California, he was a proud graduate of Huntington High, class of 1970.  He grew up in a California that no longer exists, surrounded by dairy farms and orange groves, with Disney Land in his backyard and the ocean as his playground.

Never one to live any moment of his life in a conventional manner, he began surfing at an early age.  He pursued this sport well into his 60's, traveling everywhere from Costa Rica to Fiji to catch the glassiest waves.  Chasing that adrenaline rush he got from ocean surfing, he took up dirt surfing on his mountain bike when he and his wife, Sarah, moved to the Ozarks.  Jerry rode his last bike ride in the early fall before his demise.  Also, an avid fly fisherman, he fished many of the finest trout rivers and streams in the United States, even toting his flyrod up the strenuous Bridal Veil Falls trail in Yosemite, where he expertly hooked 2 Brown Trout in view of El Capitain.  Jerry and Sarah had many traveling adventures in their camper; chasing surf, trout, and biking trails.  He loved driving his '68 Porsche 912 and delighted in running with the "Hotshoe Group" during outings with the Porsche clubs in both Kansas and California.

Jerry spent much of his early adulthood working as a carpenter and was a member of the California Carpenter's Union.  A back injury forced him to change careers and he went to college, earning his degree in Graphic Design.  When he moved back to Arkansas in 1998, he met Sarah the following year and they ran a greenhouse business together for 5 years before moving back to California.  Ever the entrepreneur, he ultimately purchased his own graphic laser and created surfboards fins, thermometers, and other gift-shop items from redwood, selling them up and down the coast of California.  After moving to the Ozarks, he created a new line of items from locally sourced Cedar and sold to selective shops in Eureka Springs and Branson.  Long after Jerry is gone, his beautifully crafted fins and little wooden souvenirs will endure as mementos of other folk's happy times.

Having a quirky sense of humor, he loved a good joke and took great pleasure in setting up his wife, Sarah, as the "fall guy".  Nobody could argue like Jerry; many times arguing a point he was in complete agreement with just for the sake of arguing.  Jerry enjoyed amusing people and had no reservations about saying or doing the most outrageous things to generate a good belly laugh (sometimes earning only a silent stare, which somehow made him funnier).  Always popular with children, he knew how to play on their level.  Among his fondest things to do was dancing with his granddaughters Amelia, Andrea, and Adelyn and riding bikes with step grandsons Oliver, George (whom he affectionately called "Snakes"), and Michael.

Jerry's memory and spirit will live on in each sparkling, dancing wave, on the sun dappled biking trails of Arkansas and Colorado, and in the glittering trout streams and rivers of the West.  He is ever present in granddaughter Amelia's pert grin, Andrea's athleticism, and Adelyn's blue eyes.  Jerry will remain in the hearts of those who knew him best and be sorely missed by his family and friends.

Preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Suzie Jett and brother, Larry Jett.   Jerry is survived by his wife (23 years) Sarah, daughter Julianna (Nathan), stepsons and stepdaughters Michele Halvorson (Larry), M. Jason Cloud (Rebekah), Kasye Moss (Oliver John), Billy Dodson, Jessica Dodson and Joshua Dodson (Kristi), plus 3 granddaughters, 15 step granddaughters and grandsons, and several step great grandchildren.

We look at not what can be seen, but we look at what can not be seen.  For what can be seen is temporary…but what cannot be seen is eternal.  For we know the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

No services are scheduled at this time.

Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Cremations Only, in Springdale, Arkansas.