Jerry W. Pool, 85, of McAlester, passed from this life to his eternal reward on Friday, June 7, 2024.  Visitation will be Tuesday, June 11, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Brumley-Mills Funeral Home.  Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, June 12, at 10:00 a.m. at Brumley-Mill Funeral Home Chapel, with Chaplain Monte Busby and Pastor Mike Andrews officiating.  Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery.  "We are confident and willing to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."  Corinthians 5:8

Jerry W. Pool was born on Aug. 9, 1938 to Fred and Dollie (Scott) Pool in the Bethel Hill community near Haywood.  He attended school at Savanna, High Hill, and graduated from Haileyville High School with the class of 1957.  He then attended Eastern Oklahoma State College in Wilburton.  Jerry served in the U.S. Army from 1958 to 1971, including overseas duty in Germany, Korea, Okinawa, and Viet Nam, as well as several stateside military bases.  He earned the Viet Nam Service Medal with 3 bronze service stars, the Republic of Viet Nam Campaign Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Expert pistol marksman, and a Good Conduct Medal clasp with 2 Bronze Service Loops.  After his honorable discharge from the Army in 1971, Jerry worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 22 years, retiring in 1992.

Jerry loved his God his family, and his country.  He was a member of the Body of Christ, having believed in hi heart the Gospel of Grace found in I Corinthians 15:1-4.

Jerry married Lorna Trapp in 1960, a marriage that lasted 58 years, until she passe away in 2018.  They were blessed with a daughter, Rae Ann, and a son, Mark.  Jerry would later marry Patricia Bess-Hessdorfer on June 2, 2020.

Jerry is survived by his loving wife, Patricia, of the home; his daughter, Rae Ann of McAlester; his son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Dana of Springdale, Ark.; and his grandson and wife, Jared and Kendall Brown of McAlester.  Also, his brother and sister-in-law, Howard Ray and Lois of High Hill; a brother-in-law, Mike Hardin of Houston; sisters-in-law, Vickie Bowman of Clinton, Md., Rachel Bess of Tulsa, and Choe Bess of Glenn Heights, Tx.  He is also survived by several nieces, nephews, and cousins, along with scores of friends and neighbors.  He was preceded in death by his first wife, Lorna; his parents, Fred and Dollie Pool; his older brother, Bobby Gene and his wife, Sandy; sisters-in-law, Norma Wood and Donna Hardin; and brothers-in-law, Jack Bess and Doyle Bess.