Jerry Kent Sailor

Jerry Kent Sailor Feb. 8, 1954 - May 12, 2014 SOUTH BEND - Jerry Kent Sailor, 60, South Bend, died Monday, May 12, 2014, in South Bend. He was born Feb. 8, 1954, in Elkhart, to Otis "Red" and Natalie E. (Hartman) Sailor. Surviving are a sister, Thais (Larry) Straub, Elkhart, and a brother, Kenny K. (Kim) Sailor, South Bend. His parents preceded him in death. Jerry Kent Sailor was an accomplished actor, singer, songwriter, director, playwright, Elvis Presley impersonator, and prop designer who inspired many on and off stage. His favorite movie was "It's a Wonderful Life," and he was truly a George Baily kind of character in his own life, touching the lives of others in countless ways. He was a Bachelor of Arts double-major in Theatre and Mass Communications; Electronic Media, at IUSB and was slated to graduate in December 2014. Jerry was a recipient of the Greg Petry Memorial Scholarship, the Frank O'Bannon, and the Broadway Theatre League Scholarship awards. He was involved in 11 plays at there and in prior years he also worked with local community theatres, as well as several regional dinner theatres. His stage and musical experiences ranged from The Importance of Being Ernest, to Norman is That You? and "Rock'n'Roll Cabaret." Born and raised in Wakarusa, Indiana, Jerry began his acting career as a Sophomore at Penn High School under the direction of William F. Ribblett. He graduated in 1972; he was a Navy veteran at the end of the Viet Nam War in 1972-73. Jerry had just been hired by the Civil War Museum in Richmond to help create and portray, as "living history," Confederate General, civil engineer, and industrialist Joseph Reid Anderson. Jerry was also in talks with the Carpenter Science Theatre to play Nicola Tesla with his old friend Larry Gard, the artistic director of the Carpenter Science Theatre in Richmond. He was also working on a pilot public television program titled "Sharing Fire." A longtime fan of science fiction and collector of comic books, he believed that each of us have special powers and that all of us could be superheroes by using those talents to help others. Ever the optimist, he always looked at the positive side of every bad situation. The gift he gave us while he was with us was this: have a sense of humor about life and be who you are, not what others expect you to be. Graveside services will be held 1:30 p.m. Saturday, May 17, 2014, at Olive (East) Cemetery, located on CR 3 between CR 28 & 30, Elkhart. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: IUSB Arts Fund 32RR04080, (checks should be made out to IU Foundation, with Jerry Sailor in the memo) Office of Development, Indiana University South Bend, 1700 Mishawaka Avenue, Administration 240, South Bend, IN 46615, phone: 574-520-4344. Rieth-Rohrer-Ehret-Lienhart Funeral Home, Wakarusa, is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be sent at www.rrefh.com.