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Jerry Austin Eubanks

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Mississippi State University

Jerry Eubanks Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Apr. 29, 2024.

Sevierville - Jerry Austin Eubanks, 87 passed away on March 27, 2024, with his daughters, sons-in-law and faithful canine companion, Punkin, by his side. Jerry was preceded in death by his wife Elizabeth Anne Simpson Eubanks, parents Willie and Ida Mae Wade Eubanks, sister and brother-in-law, Marie and Willie Doyle Goss, sister-in-law Sandra Simpson and brothers-in-law Roger Simpson and Claude Gladu.

Jerry was born in McCool, Mississippi. He was a proud alum of Mississippi State University where he graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering. Jerry began his career with the Mississippi Highway Department before entering a 49-year odyssey with the National Park Service, which took him and his family across the United States. His work with the NPS included time in Natchez Trace Parkway, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Shenandoah National Park, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park, Ozark National Scenic Riverways, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park before finishing his long career as Superintendent of Gulf Islands National Seashore for approximately 24 years.

Jerry and Anne were charter members of the Community Life Church in Gulf Breeze, Florida.

Survivors include his Daughters: Mary Anne Maples (David), Deborah Susan Jenkins (Jim);

Grandchildren: Steven Jenkins (Tara), Kelly Kostic (Chris), Katie Hurst (Dustin), David Maples (Kaitlyn), Austin Jenkins (Lacee), Josie Jenkins; Great-grandchildren: Harper & Fox Jenkins, Elizabeth Kostic, Brewer & Brayden Maples, Riley Hurst and Lanna Jenkins; Sister: Jane Gladu; Brothers-in-law: Joe Frank Ables & Joe Simpson; and many nieces and nephews

We would like to say a very special thank you to all those that provided compassionate and loving care for Dad over the past year, which includes his caregivers Michele and Cindy, special friend and helper Vivian of Gulf Breeze, FL and the wonderful and caring staff at Sevierville Health and Rehabilitation Center, and UT Hospice.

A graveside service will be held at a later date in McCool, Mississippi.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

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Lawrence Emerson

February 12, 2025

My late father, Keith Emerson and Jerry worked together for years at Shenandoah. They, along with Anne and Gayle (my mom), developed a great friendship that spanned at least 5 decades. When Jerry and Anne bought a fire-engine-red Chevy Impala convertible in the 1960s, my dad got more excited than they did . . . .

Even though Jerry supervised Keith, the man from Mississippi insisted they socialize as equals after work. Jerry generously hosted a good friend and me when we canoed the Current River in the Ozarks for three days in the late 1970s. Gayle and Keith visited Anne and Jerry on the Florida Gulf Coast after my father retired and later in Tennessee. They wrote one another and talked often by phone. Jerry called in to our surprise 80th birthday for my father in 2005 . . . .

He called me to express condolences when Keith died in 2017 . . . .

I have so many wonderful memories of the Eubanks. I'm late, but if Mary Anne and Debbie somehow see this, please, accept my belated condolences and know that your parents remain in my thoughts and make me smile. I think of their intelligence, goodness, manners and fondness for Tupelo, etc.

I suddenly decided to search the web and found Jerry's obituary just minutes ago.

- Lawrence Emerson, Warrenton, Virginia, February 12, 2025 . . . .

I attach a photo of Keith at SNP HQ in the 1970s. I will look for some of them together . . . . Take care