Jerome N. "Jerry, J.N." Knox

Jerome N. "Jerry" "J. N." Knox

Lifelong resident of Olympia, Jerry Knox, was born in Chehalis on August 21, 1910, and died on January 24, 2011 in Lacey, Washington.
Knox was a son of Clinton B. and Cora E. Knox and a grandson of Olympia pioneer Francis "Auntie Frank" Knox who built and operated the Knox Hotel, the first hotel in Olympia. He was married 66 years to Margaret L. "Peg" (Harris) Knox who predeceased him in 2006.
Jerry spent his early boyhood in his rowboat on Eld Inlet. Rowing five miles down the bay with his pet dog, Gyp, to camp out overnight on Cooper's Point was a favorite retold memory. Jerry was 10 years old. Jerry kept his hand on the tiller and his eye on the horizon throughout his life.
Pursuing his love of the water, Jerry owned a succession of outboards, inboards, flatties, and dinghies. A favorite was the double ender Hunky Dory. Another was a Cruise-a-Home which he and Peg took on many cruises with best buddies and fellow boaters Roj and Mig LeClerc.
Jerry was fond of twice told tales and shaggy dog stories. One such yarn concerned his shipping out from Olympia to New York as an eighteen year old engine room boiler tender on a tramp steamer through the Panama Canal. Ever the adventurer, Jerry took a boat towed kite flight at age 85 while on a port of call during a Caribbean cruise.
A class officer, Jerry graduated from Olympia High in 1928. He studied business administration at Oregon State College in Corvallis and the Alaska College of Agriculture and Mines at Fairbanks until caught up in tight finances during the Great Depression of the 1930's.
In his working career, Jerry mastered the sales business. He partnered with his father and brother in the nineteen forties and fifties in the Knox Tire Company at the corner of Franklin and East State Street retailing tires, bikes, and lawn equipment. In the course of demonstrating the then new fangled rotary power mower to a prospective customer, the prospective salesman was asked, "Can the thing cut that clump of tall green grass over there in the middle of the lawn?" With an enthusiastic "We'll see!", Jerry revved the motor to full throttle, rammed into the lush growth, and cleanly severed the above ground leaking faucet from its live water line which sent a geyser skyward with an "Ooops! Sorry! I'll fix it right away." The reply: "Never mind. Sold!" People said Jerry could sell refrigerators to Eskimos.
Knox served in the U. S. Navy as a yeoman during World War Two. In his off time while stationed in Chicago, he bought used bicycles and bike pieces to ship out West to the family business for refurbishing and resale. Those items were in short supply due to rationing. The family business was sold in the late 50's, and Jerry entered the real estate business. He carried that experience into work for the State Department of Highways as a right of way purchasing agent for the new I-5 freeway. On retirement he spent many fulfilling years developing the "back achers" of his Cooper Point home he designed and built.
Over their lifetimes Peg and Jerry made many wonderful friends in Olympia through their membership in The United Churches and Westminster Presbyterian Church, childrens' school activities, and with neighbors in the various and numerous neighborhoods in which they built, bought, and sold homes. The Sunset beach Kids will miss their "Unca Jerry".
Jerry was preceded in death by his brother, Stanley; and sister, Winifred.
Jerry is survived by his dear sister-in-law Thelma, widow of Stan; his cousin, Marguerite (son, Jim); his four children: John "Froggy Ford"/BJ's Paint-Tumwater (Barbara) of Lacey; Susan (Warren) of Ponte de Lima, Portugal; "Skippy" in Seattle (former wife Jeanne Rickey and her husband Dave, a lifelong Knox family friend); and world traveler, Tom; four grandchildren: Dean, Brian, Ryan, and Amber; six great grandchildren; and nephews: Bill (Millie), Steve (Barbara), and Walt (Janice).
The Knox's thank the Panorama City Convalescent Center staff for the loving care extended Jerry, Peg, and family.
The family suggests that in remembrance of Jerry, well wishers might do something kind for a next door neighbor as Peg and Jerry did throughout their lives.
Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, January 31, 2011 at Panorama City Quinault Building Chapel.