Jerry C. JANES

April 01, 1935 - August 11, 2017

We are saddened to announce that Jerry passed away peacefully at Surrey Memorial Hospital. Jerry will be deeply missed by his loving wife of 58 years Diana, daughters Dawn (Barry), Tracey (Doug); grandsons Carter (Kirsten), Curtis, and Jackson; schnauzers Fritz and Suzy; brother Mickey (Arlys) and sisters Bitsy (Henry) and Kathy (John). Jerry was predeceased by father Dewey Carter, mother Lorraine, and brother Larry (Pat). Proudly hailing from Mooringsport, Louisiana, Jerry made his way to Canada as a professional football player beginning as an End at Louisiana State University. After being drafted to the 4th Armored Division, United States Army, at Fort Hood, Texas, where he played for the Army All-Stars, he was drafted in the 21st round of the 1957 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. He chose instead to come to Canada playing three seasons with the BC Lions before being traded to the Ottawa Roughriders. Refusing to go to Ottawa, Jerry was traded between Montreal, Calgary, and Hamilton before being brought back to the Lions in 1962 and capping his career with the Lions in their first Grey Cup game in 1963. Jerry and his family spent many enjoyable days traveling the BC coast in their boat, the "Honeysuckle." Jerry was an active pilot and over the years owned an extensive collection of vintage aircraft. He took great joy in sharing his aircraft with the aviation community and never passed on the opportunity to take someone along on an adventure with him. Whether flying his B-25 Mitchell bomber to Tahiti or racing his Hawker Sea Fury at the Reno Air Races Jerry always made it a priority to share the experience with friends and family. He made numerous contributions as a founding member of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, Ontario and was a proud member of both the Western Warbirds and Cascade Warbirds flying communities. His legacy lives on in the countless people he introduced to aviation and to vintage aircraft and the many people he inspired to become pilots. In lieu of flowers, Jerry's family asks that contributions be made in his name to the Delta Heritage Airpark - the place he called home for his entire flying career. Donations can be sent c/o Tom Boulanger, Treasurer, Delta Heritage Airpark Operating Committee, 4103 104 St. Delta, BC, V4K 3N3. No funeral by request.

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

Of sun-split clouds, and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of - Wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there

I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air...

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue

I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace

Where never lark or even eagle flew -

And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

- John Gillespie Magee Jr.