Jerry Lynn Chatwell

Jerry Lynn Chatwell, 84, passed peacefully from this life with his loving family around him.  A Celebration of His Life will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church with Pastor Les Sharp of Faith Covenant Church officiating.  Interment will be at Westlawn Memorial Park under the direction of Minton Chatwell Funeral Directors of Borger.  The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 on Tuesday evening at the funeral home.

Jerry was born July 30, 1939 in Haskell, TX to Tom Chatwell and Marie Rhoads. He moved to Borger with his Mother in 1946 and started to work at the age of 10 for the Borger News Herald where he was recognized as “Outstanding Carrier” he then went to work for A. M. Minton, founder of Minton Funeral Home and Flowers at the age of 14.  He graduated from Borger High School in 1958 and from Dallas Institute of Funeral Service in 1959. He married the former Sharon Hunter after graduating, Sharon passed away on November 15, 1992. Jerry married Linda White in 1994.  

He served one year apprenticeship at Ed C. Smith and Brothers Funeral Home in Dallas before moving back to Borger in 1960 to complete his apprenticeship under Mr. Minton. In May, 1961 he received his Funeral Director and Embalmer license. From 1960 until 1968 Jerry was very active in the Borger Jaycees serving as first and second Vice President and several other committees. He was Chairman of the first and second Little Miss Minnow Pageant held in Borger. He served as Neighborhood commissioner for the Boy Scouts, on the board of Directors Hutchinson County Mentally Retarded Association and was director and President of the Panhandle Funeral Directors Association.  After Minton died Jerry managed the funeral home from 1964 until 1968 and he became a Master Mason at Adobe Walls Lodge #1355. Jerry received his Scottish Rite 32^nd Degree in Amarillo and held several offices including director of the Clown Unit, Jake sometimes quipped that he really had a clown for a partner. Jerry was a member of the Borger Elks.  

He then went to work for Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Home in Amarillo.  In 1969 he was made manager of the Martin Road facility. Jerry received the Ed C. Smith outstanding funeral director and his 50 and 60 year Funeral Director awards.

In 1978, he and Jake bought the funeral home from Cleo Minton and in 1985 they bought Westlawn Memorial Park, in 1987 they built the funeral home in Fritch and in 1988 they bought the funeral home in Panhandle.

Jerry is survived by his wife of 29 years Linda, his two sons J. L. Chatwell and his wife Missy of Borger and Steve Hood and his wife Misty, his two daughters Carrie Milton and her husband Charles of Edmond, OK and Robin Bailey and her husband Nathan of Pampa, his grandchildren Lacie Wilson, Chloe Chatwell, Kirstin Wimmer, Brianna Montgomery, Natasha Stone, Logan Milton, Kaylor Chatwell and Kade Hood, his great-grandchildren Braylee Wilson, Neelie Wilson, Grace Montgomery, Scarlett Stone, Bentleigh Jones, Harrison Stone, Cora Montgomery, Juliette Wimmer, Dakota Parker and baby girl Milton on the way and his half sister Julie Wedel of San Antonio.