Jerry Romine

ODESSA - Leaving this earth on May 3, 2017, Jerry Romine went to be with loved ones in his eternal home with his Savior.

He was a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and friend to so many. To Jerry, everyone was "just a good ole boy", even if he only knew them from the briefest encounter. He always had kind words for people, but if he really liked someone, he was known to joke with them with a twinkle in his blue eyes and a big grin on his face.

Jerry was born in Lawton, Oklahoma on January 29, 1935, to HJ and Verna Romine. Through his school years, he lived in more than 12 small towns in Texas, Kansas, Illinois and New Mexico because in those days his family followed the rigs and it was necessary to move when the rig moved. Fortunately he excelled at sports and that helped him make friends fast. He not only played football, basketball, baseball and ran track, but played 6 man football as well. At Lovington High School, he was All State Honorable Mention in 1953, and then an All State Linebacker in 1954, as well as Captain of the football team. He had several offers to play sports in college, but decided to follow his heart and marry his high school sweetheart, Kay Romine. He and Kay were married 52 years before losing her in December 2006.

He began his oilfield career as a delivery driver for Houston Oilfield Material Company and was a Store Manager within 2 years. He retired from Tesoro Petroleum in 1991 after 39 years of service as Vice President of Operations. After retirement he enjoyed spending time with his family, summer months in Ruidoso with long-time friends, and many hobbies such as wood-working, wrapping fishing rods, and making his own flies for fly fishing to name a few. He was especially talented as a painter and specialized in hill-country landscape oil paintings. His blue-bonnet paintings were like looking at the hill-sides in spring. Jerry was never a singer, but said he "made a joyful noise" anyway. When computers became more popular, he wanted so badly to learn all he could. This resulted in him building close relationships with the cell phone company as well as the computer store and more than a few calls to his friends and family to say, "I'm not sure what I did, but I can't fix this derned thing." Those calls were always interrupted with a lot of laughter while he tried to untangle whatever had been done to cause his computer problem. His sense of humor was contagious and whether he was fishing in Alaska or listening to "toe-tapping music" in Branson, he had a good time wherever he was and made sure that anyone around him had fun too.

Jerry was a part of many volunteer organizations throughout his life and believed that his calling was to serve others. Through the years, he worked with the Baptist Children's Home in San Antonio, Church Builders, Lay Witness Renewal Weekends, was an active member of the Midland Pallette Club for years, was a Deacon in the Baptist church and served in several capacities at Parks Methodist Retirement Village. He loved to be of service to others and taught those around him to enjoy life and help others. Because he had so many interests, he was a happy man who wanted to get everything done "right quick."

In more recent years, he loved to tell people that he was so blessed to love two such wonderful women, because he enjoyed his second marriage to Sandra Romine, who he met while on a church trip. They enjoyed over three years of marriage and had fun with a host of family, friends from church and the Parks Methodist family. He loved Sandra, as well as her children, and enjoyed his last years as a result of their time together.

Jerry is preceded in death by his wife, Kay Romine; his parents and in-laws; his sister, Barbara Poe and brother, Harley Romine.

He is survived by his wife Sandra Romine; son Rick Romine and wife Janie of Saginaw, Texas; his daughter Rhonda Romine of Odessa, Texas, as well as eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Also surviving is his brother Chock Romine of Hobbs, New Mexico.

The family will receive visitors at Ellis Funeral Home in Midland on Friday, May 5th from 4:30 - 6:30 pm. Funeral Service will be in the chapel of First Baptist Church of Midland at 2:00 pm on Saturday, May 6th, followed by burial at Resthaven Memorial Park in Midland.

His family would like to thank Medical Center Hospital of Odessa as well as Home Hospice for the wonderful, compassionate care given to Jerry. They would also like to express their gratitude for the many calls, cards, visitors and prayers for Jerry during such a difficult time.

The family would like any donations to profit Home Hospice of Odessa at 619 N. Grant, Ste 120 Odessa, Texas 79761 or First Baptist Church at 2104 W Louisiana Ave, Midland, Texas 79701.

Online condolences may be offered at www.ellisfunerals.com