Jerry Midkiff

Jerry Edward Midkiff

June 27, 1947 - May 8, 2014

Raleigh

Jerry Edward Midkiff, 66, passed away at 4:30 Thursday morning, May 8, 2014 at WakeMed Raleigh Campus following a seven-year battle with cancer.

Jerry was born on June 27, 1947 in Danville, Virginia to the parents of Fred Ramsey Midkiff, Sr. and Georgia Parrish "Bobbie" Midkiff. He spent his childhood and formative years in the small town of Gretna, Virginia. An excellent student-athlete, Jerry lettered in four different sports in high school where he starred on the football, basketball, baseball, and track and field teams. Upon graduating high school, Jerry left Gretna to attend Elon College where he earned an athletic scholarship to play baseball. During his senior season, he was co-captain of Elon's baseball team. While in college, Jerry married his hometown sweetheart and love of his life, Patricia "Pat" Louise Shelton, on November 28, 1968. Jerry subsequently graduated from Elon in August 1969 with a degree in Physical Education. Jerry and Pat remained in Elon, where they celebrated the birth of their only child, Kevin Scott Midkiff on March 3, 1971.

Jerry and Pat then moved to Stoneville, NC, where Jerry taught physical education at Stoneville High School, and also coached the football and baseball teams. In 1973, the family moved to Raleigh, NC, a city that would be their home for the remainder of Jerry's life. Jerry worked as a Store Manager for Eckerd Drug Stores for a few years before venturing into the construction field in the late 1970s. He started working with Carolina Builders, now Stock Building Supply, on June 4, 1979, where he had a fruitful career that lasted for the next 31 years. Starting as a counter salesman, Jerry worked his way up to outside salesman, selling building materials to residential contractors. As a successful salesman, Jerry was then promoted to Sales Manager, which comprised the majority of his career, overseeing the team of salesmen of which he used to be a part. Ultimately, Jerry finished his long relationship with Stock Building Supply as their Triangle Pricing Specialist. He would retire on August 23, 2010.

Before and during his retirement, Jerry enjoyed travelling with his family, and attending football and baseball games at NC State University, where his son Kevin is an alumnus. Together, Jerry and Pat enjoyed collecting a menagerie of miniature ceramic homes and buildings that eventually incorporated itself into an impressive village within their home. Also, Jerry was a talented craftsman, who made many keepsakes and items of furniture that still stand today in the homes of his loved ones. Jerry was also especially proud of his immediate family, including Pat, Kevin, Kevin's wife Megan, and his 2 granddaughters, Emily and Victoria, on whom he constantly doted.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Pat Midkiff; his son, Kevin Midkiff and wife, Megan Bell, and their 2 daughters, Emily and Victoria Midkiff of Raleigh, NC; and his brother, Fred Midkiff, Jr., and his wife, Valicia of Blue Ridge, GA.

Services honoring Jerry's life will be held Sunday, May 11, 2014 at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home at 1701 E. Millbrook Road in Raleigh. There will be a visitation from 1-3PM with a funeral service immediately following at 3 o'clock. After the service, Jerry will be laid to rest at Raleigh Memorial Park at 7501 Glenwood Ave in Raleigh.

Condolences may be sent to www.BrownWynneMillbrook.com