Jerry Gray Bush

Jerry Gray Bush, born November 8, 1932, died peacefully at home on April 1, 2025 after a two decade long battle with heart disease. He was 92. Jerry was born to Francis “Jack” Bush and Mary Elizabeth (Ferguson) Bush in Pontotoc, Texas in Llano County, he moved to Hobbs, New Mexico in 1945 with his mother and several siblings after the death of his father.

Jerry attended Hobbs Schools and worked various jobs to help support his mother and younger sister. He served in the United States Army Artillery Division during the Korean Conflict, receiving an honorable discharge in 1955. He returned to Hobbs and married Charlene Thomason Bush on August 10, 1956. The first of four children, Elizabeth Dianne Bush was born in 1957. She was soon followed by Steven Gray Bush, Stanley Doyle Bush and finally Shannon Dale Bush. They celebrated 58 years of marriage before her death on June 16, 2015.

Jerry worked in the oilfields of the Permian Basin and Barnet-Shell until he retired at the age of 80. He, with the help of Charlene, owned and operated Jerry’s Welding, both Steve and Stanley worked with him over the years. He worked primarily for Nolan H. Brunson, Inc for the majority of his career. He worked first for Nolan and then Hal Brunson. He refused to let anyone out work him – regardless of their age. He didn’t retire because he was tired, he retired because he didn’t want to work through another cold winter.

He was an avid hunter all of his life, gun collector, knife collector and baseball fan. He and the whole family watched the Texas Rangers lose (and win a few games) in three stadiums over the years. In his later years he spent time traveling with Charlene and her with her twin sister, Claudine and nieces Missy and Cheryl. His final years were spent involved in the Masonic Lodge and Hobbs Shrine Club holding different offices and degrees. He served a number of terms as president of the Shrine Club, but maybe his favorite position was chairman of the parade committee – he was a busy man during Christmas time making sure to hit every local parade, he organized groups to participate in the New Mexico State Fair Parade and the Llano, Texas Rodeo Parade.

Jerry leaves behind his four children, five grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren, as well as many many beloved nieces and nephews.

Thank you to Keegan Taylor and all of the wonderful caring staff at Enhabit Hospice, Covenant Health Hobbs Hospital, Covenant Cardiology Group and Covenant Medical Center Caregivers. If you would like to make a donation instead of flowers, please consider Palmer Drug Abuse Program Hobbs, NM or Shriner’s Hospital for Children.