Gerald Kilgore

Gerald David (Jerry) Kilgore, age 68, passed away Tuesday, August 13, 2013, in Joplin, Missouri where he has resided for the past several years. Gerald was born October 3, 1944 at St. Joseph Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas. He was the son of Joseph Henry Kilgore, Jr. and Norma Lucile Wright Kilgore. He attended Sam Rosen Elementary before the family moved to the SE Tarrant County community of Village Creek where he then attended Village Creek Elementary, Forest Oak Jr. High, and Poly High School. Gerald began working various part-time jobs at a young age, including pushing an ice cream cart all over the city of Fort Worth and throwing The Shopper paper on Saturday nights. He eventually went to work for Texas and Pacific Railroad. That job transferred him to several locations across the country. He retired from T&P in March 1983 and went to work for Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) and retired from there in November 2000. He loved music, especially the old country music. He loved playing guitar and was always attempting to learn more. He was the son of a Baptist preacher and as a child attended the Stamps Baxter School of Music in Dallas during the summer along with his family, as well as various singing schools around the Fort Worth/Dallas area. Growing up he sang tenor in a family trio with his brother and sister. A widower in 2001, Gerald moved from Quinlan, Texas, to Joplin, Missouri to the home of Sarah Ellen Phillips. The two of them spent happy days enjoying life and especially their several RVs. Gerald also enjoyed riding his motorcycle. He was preceded in death by his parents and wife Billie Digby Kilgore. He is survived by Sarah Ellen Phillips, daughters Brenda Kilgore Tweed of South Carolina, Karen Kilgore Palomo (Juan) of Georgia, and Jeannette Kilgore Connerly of Texas; sons Steven Kilgore of Missouri, Michael Kilgore (Christi) of Greenville, Texas and Kenny Holbrook (Summer). He is also survived by ten grandchildren and several great grandchildren, one brother, Joe Kilgore (Jerrie) of Crowley, Texas and sister Dorthy Kilgore Casten (Ken) of Fort Worth. In addition to his biological children, Gerald is survived by five step children and their families, and the granddaughter of wife Sarah whom they were parenting. Gerald will be placed by wife Billie at Lakeside Memorial Park at a later date. A memorial service will be held on Friday, August 23, 2013 at 4:00 p.m. at Quinlan Funeral Home.