Gerald E. "Jerry" Horton

Gerald E. "Jerry" Horton, 72, of the Coquina Crossing Community in Elkton, passed away April 23, 2013, at the Bailey Family Center for Caring in St. Augustine with his family by his side. He was born in St. Louis, Mo., and grew up in Desoto, Mo., raised by his grandparents, Lucy and Everett Horton. He served his country in the U.S Air Force during the Vietnam Conflict and went on to attend Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic School at Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, Okla. He enjoyed a long career as an aircraft mechanic, working for Braniff International Airways from 1966 to 1982 at the Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport, and from 1983 until his retirement in 2003, he worked for Northwest Orient Airlines in Minneapolis, Memphis and Atlanta. After his retirement, Jerry relocated to the Coquina Crossing Community in Elkton, Fla., and worked as a bus driver for the Council on Aging as well as working as Gate Guard at Coquina Crossing. He was a member of Crescent Beach Baptist Church. More than anything he was a devoted husband, and a loving father and grandfather and will be deeply missed.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Nettie Horton of Elkton; a son, John W. Horton and wife Karen of Newark, Texas; a daughter, Pamela Hathaway and husband David of Collierville, Tenn.; grandchildren, Danielle Horton, Gretchen Elese Hathaway, Robbie Hathaway; and his dog, Peaches. He was preceded in death by grandparents, Lucy and Everett Horton, and parents-in-law, John and Vivian Raines Kelley.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 27, 2013, at Crescent Beach Baptist Church. Funeral services and interment with military honors in Colleyville, Texas, will follow at a later date.

St. Johns Family Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.