Jerry Cain

Jerry Cain

Knightstown - Jerry Cain passed away on May 3, 2021, just six days shy of his 80th birthday. He was born in Mt. Comfort, IN on May 9, 1941, the son of Lawrence and Mary (Atherton) Cain. Jerry married Janice Sue Duvall on June 22, 1963.

He is survived by his wife, three children, Steve (Diana) of Carthage, Mary Ann (fiancé Mike Owens) of Mays and Jason (Jennifer) of Knightstown. He is also survived by nine grandkids and two great-granddaughters. Jerry is also survived by three brothers, Frank (Earlene) Cain of McCordsville, John (Ellen) Cain of Henderson, Jim (Vicki) Cain of Ottawa, KS, two sisters, Eleanor Davidson of Indianapolis and Nancy (Les) Miller of Lafayette.

He was preceded by two brothers, Bill (Jean) Cain, Lou (Colleen) Cain and one grandson, Jakob McDaniel.

Raised on a farm near Mt Comfort, he was a 1959 graduate of Mt. Comfort High School, home of the Buccaneers, in a class of ten students. One of Jerry's favorite jokes was how he graduated in the top 10 of his class...and also the bottom 10!

Jerry taught math and coached track and cross country. He taught and coached for nine years at New Palestine High School, 24 years for Warren Township, Indianapolis and because he could never sit down, he also coached girls track at Eastern Hancock High School for five years and Knightstown High School for two years while in his 70's. Somewhere in there, he also coached girls basketball at Creston Junior High for a few years. In case you were adding, that was about 40 plus years of coaching!

Jerry was Center Township Trustee for Rush County for 31 years. A member of Center Christian Church for 47 years where he served as a member of the Church Board for 40, was a long time deacon and the church's assistant treasurer for 36 years.

Besides his many years as a coach and teacher, Jerry was also an avid high school girls basketball fan. He recently was awarded the "Hoosier Hysteria" award of achievement for attending over 10,000. Games in 525 different gymnasiums. Remember, he was a math teacher...he counted EVERYTHING. Jerry could name the mascot of nearly every school in the state and oddly enough, how many steps you had to climb to get into many of those old gyms!

Jerry knew just abut everyone and if he didn't know you directly, he darn sure knew someone you knew, personally. He asked everyone where they went to school and then proceeded to tell them what their mascot was and where they were located, especially in Indiana. He had a photographic memory and to the chagrin of his kids, he was hardly ever wrong. Jerry kept in contact with many, many of his past students and athletes. In the past month, he has received over 175 cards and letter from both near and far, from students he taught and coached; some more than 60 years ago.

A celebration of life will be held 11 AM Saturday, May 8, 2021 at Center Christian Church with Rev. Jim Cain officiating. Visitation will be from 4pm-8pm, Friday May 7, 2021 at Center Christian Church. Burial to follow at Center Cemetery.