Jerry Lee Golden

Jerry Lee Golden: A Life Paved with Laughter and Love

Jerry Lee Golden, 80, passed away on February 22, 2025, leaving behind a legacy as smooth as the roads he built and as warm as the heart he shared with everyone around him. Born on November 2, 1944, in Warner, OK, to Kenneth Lee Golden and Maudie Ellen Burgess, Jerry embarked on a journey that was as unpredictable as a twisty country road.

He began his career in the world of typesetting for newspapers in Garland, TX—a job that taught him the importance of every little detail, much like every laugh and kind word in life. However, it was in road construction where Jerry truly found his calling. For decades, he laid the groundwork for countless communities, and his retirement in 2011 marked the end of a career that literally and metaphorically paved the way for others.

Not one to shy away from adventure, Jerry even took a detour into the wild world of bull riding after attending Jim Shoulder's bull riding school. While his bull riding career was brief, it was as bold and memorable as the man himself. The first time he got Sue to attend one of his rodeos, he was bucked and thrown from his bull right in front of her. Whether it was the landing or the look on Sue’s face, something told him his rodeo days were numbered. He didn’t do much bull riding after that—some might say he realized that staying on the bull wasn’t the hardest part… explaining it to Sue afterward was.

Jerry’s humor was only matched by his heartfelt generosity. He was always willing to lend a hand—even if his help arrived with a side of witty commentary. He believed that kindness shouldn’t be done with fanfare; instead, it should be as natural and unassuming as a well-paved road. His laughter, his "gentle" (and, at times, blunt) advice, and his willingness to help left an indelible mark on all who knew him.

His kids will fondly remember his classic question: "What did you do that for?"—usually after they had done something questionable. And Sue will always hear him saying "I got this" whenever she was trying to assist him with something.

Jerry is preceded in death by his mother, Maudie Ellen Burgess; his father, Kenneth Lee Golden; his sister, Carol Sue Etheridge; and his baby sister, Annette.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Sue; his sons and their spouses: Charlie (Amy) of Gore, OK, Curtis (Valerie) of McAlester, OK, Billy (Marlene) of Bunch, OK, and Michael (Philip Skopp) of Panama City, FL; along with 10 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren and sister Mary Jane Wingo (Toy). Each of them carries a piece of his humor, his spirit, and his steadfast love—a reminder that even the longest journeys are filled with moments of joy and shared smiles.

Today, as we bid farewell to Jerry Golden, we celebrate a life that was as much about constructing solid foundations as it was about constructing hearty laughs. His legacy continues in every shared smile, every kind gesture, and every perfectly paved path that guides us forward.