Lt. Col. Gerald Harris Lucas

Lt. Col. Gerald (Gerry) Harris Lucas died at the age of 87 on Monday, March 17, 2025 at Shannondale of Maryville.

Gerry was born at home in Alco, Florida, on July 12, 1937 to Mort and Mary Harris Lucas. He was the youngest of 11 children. He spent his childhood along the St. Johns River in Astor, Florida, where his father was the nighttime bridge tender. (The home is now part of the Pioneer Museum in Barberville, Florida.) Hunting gators, harvesting swamp cabbage, fishing for black bass, and having his many injuries treated with kerosene filled Gerry’s childhood.

He was an active leader and honor student at Umatilla High School where he was a member of the football team. He was known as Bulldozer Lucas and celebrated a state championship.

Following high school Gerry enlisted in the US Air Force in 1956. After several successful years as an airman, Gerry completed the requirements to become an officer by receiving his Bachelors in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in 1963. He served three tours of duty in Vietnam as part of the Transportation Operations Division. He was stationed in Germany and at the Pentagon. He patriotically served 26 years and retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1981.

Gerry’s post-retirement activities were closely associated with his wife of 54 years, Pat. Their love and devotion were an inspiration to many couples. Together they served faithfully in the communities they chose to call home at Cokesbury UMC, Sevierville UMC and Fairview Methodist. Any task of caretaking or maintenance Gerry accepted was always handled with precision and an orientation to detail. He was known for his generous smile and sense of humor. He enjoyed travel, photography, gardening, fishing, and music.

Gerry is preceded in death by his wife, his parents and all ten of his siblings, and his daughter Teri Struck. He is survived by his daughters and spouses Debi and Gary Neiswanger; Kimberlyn and Ken Brown; Lisa Creasman and Steve Underwood; grandchildren and great grandchildren Andrea Neiswanger-Gibson with Ella; Daniel Neiswanger and Zandra De Araujo; Sarah and Jeremy Carroll with Oliver and Miles; Abbey Underwood; Bryan and Olia Struck with Anthony, Zion, Reyan, and Kai; numerous nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life is scheduled for 2 pm Sunday, March 23 at Fairview Methodist Church with Rev. Gilbert Harris and Roxanna Jones officiating. Receiving of Friends will follow the funeral. Interment of cremains with military funeral honors will be Monday, March 24 at 12:30 at East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery on the French Broad River in Knox County.

The family would like to express gratitude to the staff at Shannondale and Amedisys Hospice Care.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Fairview Methodist Church, 2508 Old Niles Ferry Road, Maryville 37803 or Wreaths Across America at East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery at http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/TNJSET.