Jerry Wayne Finley, 85, passed away Monday, May 20, 2024.
A memorial service was held at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, May 23, 2024, at First Baptist Church in Floydada.
The viewing was held from noon to 5 p.m., Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at Moore Rose Funeral Home and on Thursday morning, May 23, 2024.
The family was available for visitation at the First Baptist Church at 1:15 p.m., prior to the service.
A private interment will take place at a later time. Arrangements were under the personal care of Moore-Rose Funeral Home of Floydada.
Jerry was born March 29, 1939 in Floyd County, Texas, to Arnold Wayne Finley and Beulah Francis “Pansy” Shirey.
He grew up in Floyd County, where he attended Floydada schools and graduated in 1957.
He met Julia Ann Daniel, and after six months of dating, they married on July 26, 1959. Throughout his life he held various jobs, including unloading cars off the trains that came into town. He was also a firefighter with the Floydada Volunteer Fire Department, where he reached the rank of chief.
He and Julie ran the City Trim Shop for many years, reupholstering and recovering many pieces of furniture, boat tarps, and car seats. He began working at the Floydada post office in the early 1960s as a rural carrier and had moved up as a window clerk when he transferred to the Levelland Post Office in the mid-1980s where he was the assistant postmaster. On August 10, 1991 he was promoted to postmaster in Memphis, Texas, and stayed there until his retirement in 1999. After retirement he and Julie moved back to Floydada.
Jerry also enjoyed fishing, camping, woodworking and leatherworking. He had a love for motorcycle riding with Julie and was the West Texas State Coordinator of the Christian Motorcyclists Association. During their time with CMA, they attended many motorcycle rallies and were able to go on mission trips to Peru and Honduras.
When Jim and Jon were young, he served as a Boy Scout Leader and took the troops on many camping trips to the mountains.
Jerry was very involved in the church. He was ordained as a deacon in April of 2007. He served as the Kids Kamp craft leader, cooked many men’s breakfasts and Wednesday night meals.
Most of all he loved spending time with his family and friends. He especially loved family gatherings for birthdays, holidays, and Sunday lunches when he often made everyone’s favorite biscuits. He and Julie were able to travel the world, going to England, Ireland and Canada.
He is preceded in death by his parents. Jerry is survived by his wife, Julie; son Jim and Rosemary Finley; son Jon Finley and Kirk Sinclair; and daughter, Jana and Mike Muniz; grandchildren Jesse and Amy Finley, Robert Finley, Christina and Danny Longoria, and Allison and JJ Herrera; and great-grandchildren, James and Aria Finley. He is also survived by his sisters, Pat Conklin and Kaye and Kelvin Tipton, and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the staff of Beehive Homes and Interim Hospice for their wonderful dedication and care.