Jerry Don Womack

Jerry Don Womack, 79, passed away peacefully at home Thursday, February 9, 2017, a few days shy of his 80th birthday.

Friends and family are invited to Biggers Funeral Home on Sunday, February 12th, from 5 to 7 p.m. to pay their respects to such a loving and caring husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, great grandfather, mentor, and friend to so many.

Jerry will be laid to rest at the DFW National Cemetery with a private family ceremony at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please consider making a donation to the “Jerry and Helen Womack Scholarship” at Tarrant County College which can benefit only graduates of Azle High School who wish to further their education at the NW Campus of TCC. Checks may be sent to Tarrant County College Foundation, 1500 Houston Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102. Please note “Jerry and Helen Womack Scholarship” on the memo line.

Jerry was born on February 12, 1937 in Padgett, Texas which is about 100 miles northwest of Azle. He attended Megargel High School and in 1955 took a bus to Fort Worth and enthusiastically enlisted in the U.S. Navy for a career that would span 20 years. After boot-camp in San Diego, California, he was stationed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii aboard the USS McGinty DE-365. On December 26th, 1956, while on leave, he married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Helen Fae Watson and they spent their honeymoon at the Tower Motel in Lake Worth (no kidding). Jerry was proud to become a Shellback in 1957 (crossing the equator on a war ship) as his Father and Uncle were also Shellbacks. Jerry was also thrilled to have witnessed operation Redwing, which was the H-Bomb tests carried out in 1957 near the Marshall Islands in the Pacific. After his time stationed at Pearl Harbor, Jerry was assigned to the USS Preston DD 795 in Long Beach, California where in 1960 his son, David Scott, was born. A short time later he was stationed in San Diego, California, where his daughter, Dezra Dawn, was born in 1962. Once again, in the early 60’s, Jerry found himself stationed in Hawaii, this time assigned to a squadron (VP-22). While stationed in Hawaii, Jerry made the rank of Chief Petty Officer after passing the test on his first attempt. The family lived in Hawaii until 1969 when Jerry was transferred to Key West, Florida. A couple years later Jerry was once again stationed at San Diego, California; this time aboard the USS King, DLG 10. While serving our Country, Jerry earned his Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, and several Good Conduct Awards all of which he and his family were very proud of. Jerry retired from the Navy in 1974 and the family settled in Azle.

After managing convenience stores for a few years for others, Jerry and Helen decided to open up their own stores, all in Azle. The first was J & H Stop-N-Shop on Main St. They built their second store, J & H Main Stop, also on Main St. a few years later, and in 2000 built J & H (Exxon) on the Way to the Lake. While managing his convenience stores, Jerry supported the community of Azle by serving on the Crime Control and Prevention District from 2001 to 2014. Jerry and Helen sold their convenience stores in 2010 and Jerry retired for the second time!!!

For his last career, Jerry spent most (sunny) days at Lakeview Marina on Eagle Mountain Lake where he supervised the daily operations and was instrumental in helping with the renovation of the entire marina over the last seven years. He was even caught fishing a time or twelve!

Jerry is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Helen Womack; his brother, Jack Womack of Tyler; his sister, Gail Womack Story (John Story) of Olney; his two children, Scott Womack (Bonnie Womack) and Dezra Womack Cooper (Phillip Cooper); his grandchildren, Jason Womack (Mitzi Roberson), Staci Womack Gee (Neal Gee), Kyle Cooper (Katie Cooper), and Kimberly Cooper Cartwright (Matt Cartwright); his great- grandchildren, Cassidy Womack, Garrett Gee, Casen Cartwright, Charleigh Cartwright, Kenzie Roberson, and Lenzie Roberson, and, soon to arrive, Lawsyn {Fireball Shots} Gee; along with numerous other kinfolks and friends.