Jerry N. Lackey

Dr. Jerry N. Lackey, 75, of Nacogdoches, Texas, passed away Saturday, March 14, 2015. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, 2015, at Westminster Presbyterian Church at 903 North St., Nacogdoches, Texas, 75961. The Rev. Steve Newton will be officiating. Jerry was born Nov. 30, 1939, in Overton, Texas, to Waid and Pauline Lackey. He graduated from Longview High School in 1958, began his undergraduate studies at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, in 1958, and completed his Bachelor of Arts at the University of Texas at Austin in 1963. He then earned his Ph.D. in educational psychology from the University of Texas at Austin in 1971. Jerry was employed as a research assistant at NASA/M.D. Anderson from 1965-67. He became a faculty member at SFA in the Department of Psychology in 1967 where he remained until his retirement in 2005. In 2011 he was named professor emeritus by the SFA Board of Regents. Jerry loved serving his community and did so through various organizations such as Kiwanis Club, Boy Scouts of America, band boosters, football boosters and Habitat for Humanity â€" often serving in a leadership role. Music and the arts were near and dear to his heart. He participated in community theatre, community band, a variety of singing groups and was a lifelong member of the church choir. When he could, Jerry spent countless hours fishing, biking, camping, canoeing, golfing and generally spending time outdoors. He especially enjoyed sharing and teaching those things to his five grandsons. Jerry is survived by his wife, Dr. Verna Barron of Nacogdoches; his daughter, Leah Kahn and her husband, Steve, of Nacogdoches; his son, Derek Lackey and his wife, Julia, of Coppell, Texas; his daughter, Megan Bourgeois and her husband, John, of Plano, Texas; his five grandsons, Lucas Kahn, Blake and Brent Lackey, and Mason and Joey Bourgeois; and his former spouse and mother of his children, Sarah Jo Lackey. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Jerry’s name to your favorite charity or the building fund at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Laird Funeral Home.