Jerry Barrow

Jerry Richard Barrow, 76, passed away on August 21, 2013 at Casa De Oro nursing home in Las Cruces, NM. Jerry was born February 23, 1937 in Tucson, AZ to Richard Harding and Nora McRae Barrow. He grew up in the small community of St. David, Ariz. His family raised chickens and turkeys to sell to stores and privately. A great-grandson of early Arizona settlers - he was very proud of his heritage. He loved all things that are outdoors. Jerry graduated form St. David High School in 1955 and started college at the University of Arizona the following fall. He thought he would finally get to sleep in - no chickens to feed - but soon found out that waking up early was too engrained in his life and was always an early riser. In 1957 he was called to serve a mission to Mexico for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He loved this calling, learning to speak Spanish and serving in the Mexico City area when he contracted Guillain Barre Syndrome. He came home completely paralyzed and the doctors told his parents he would never walk again. After rehabilitating, he attended the University of Arizona the following fall and graduated with honors with a degree in Vocational Agriculture in 1960. He then completed a masters degree in horticulture. He was hired by the U of A to work at their experimental station in Yuma, AZ and spent his summer months in the watermelon and cantaloupe fields. Right before he moved to Yuma he met Carolyn Sue Windsor and after a short courtship they were married in the Mesa, Arizona Temple and started their lifetime adventure together. In 1963 Jerry, Sue and baby daughter, Debbie , moved to Pullman, Wash. so Jerry could complete his PH. D in Cytogenetics. In 1967 the family moved to Las Cruces. Jerry went to work for the USDA ARS as a research scientist, a career that spanned 42 wonderful years. He couldn't wait for Mondays to come so he could get back to his research, whether it was in cotton or later at the Jornada Experimental Range. He loved his job! While working at the Jornada he structured a new scientific career based on his insights into below ground plant-soil fungi relationships of native desert plants. While other see barren desert, he saw the desert plants and knew how they survived. He truly loved being a research scientist and worked as long as his legs could walk, he retired in 2009. He also believed in having fun and camping and all things pertaining to camping is very dear to our family. We cut our Christmas tree for over 40 years, we visited national parks. Jerry loved his family and to his last breath wanted the best for them. He never complained, always had a smile, the last four years were spent in a wheel chair, but he enjoyed watching U of A and WSU sports, Diamondbacks, being with all of his children, our Sunday family dinners and calling his mother every evening. He loved all of our grandchildren and all of our grand dogs, many Labradors have been in our family. He is survived by his 97-year-old mother, Nora McRae Barrow, of St. David, Ariz., his wife of almost 52 years, Sue; 10 children, 18 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren as well as his brother Mark Barrow, aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews. He loved and appreciated his cousin Marilyn McRae for her loving care of his mother. The family would like to thank all of the nurses, physical therapists, all of those who were so kind to Jerry at the hospital, rehab hospital and Casa De Oro, especially Dr. Roset Samuel. Thank you to all of the Joranada employees. Services will be held Wednesday August 28, 2013 at 10 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day saints located at 3210 Venus St. Las Cruces, NM. Arrangements are with Getz Funeral Home and Getz Family Crematory 1410 E. Bowman Ave, Las Cruces New Mexico 88001. To sign the local online guest book visit www.GetzCares.com.