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Jerry Wayne Batey, 73

Jerry Wayne Batey, age 73, of Post Falls, got to go to heaven on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019.

Jerry was born in Fort Worth, Texas, on July 2, 1946, but he grew up in Southern California. He graduated from high school and attended San Bernardino Valley College and then served in the United States Army, where he did a tour in Vietnam. He was an aircraft electrician and was on a helicopter assault team.

He saw Susan Howard while visiting a friend’s church when they were just kids. She was up singing in the choir and he was with his friends and asked who that beautiful girl was, because he was going to marry her! Susan and Jerry were married in Hawaii on Valentine’s Day in 1968, while he was on leave from his tour in Vietnam.

His career spanned from being an insurance salesman to being vice president and a project manager for Schuon Manufacturing to designing structural equipment for sawmills. On the side he designed houses for local contractors as an architect. For the last 20 or so years, he has been self-employed as a finish carpenter and master guru who could fix anything — yes anything!

He died knowing that he was surrounded by people who loved him to the moon and back. That “Star Wars” was the greatest movie ever, and that Home Depot was the best place to take your granddaughter for fun.

Jerry is survived by his wife, best friend, and soul mate, Susan, from Post Falls. He is also survived by his daughter, Jennifer and son-in-law, Michael Gilbert, from Spokane Valley, Wash.; son, Matthew Batey; sisters Margie Bennet and Laverne Hayes; brothers Vernon Batey and Bill Batey; mother-in-law, Lucille Thomson and his one and only granddaughter, Olivia Gilbert (“Peanut”).

He is preceded in death by his parents and brother Sonny Batey.

Heartfelt thanks go out to the doctors and nurses at Kootenai Medical Center, who worked so hard over the last three months after his heart attack and surgery to save his life. In the end, they provided a peaceful and compassionate transition from this life to his heavenly home.

A funeral and service with military honors will take place at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019, at Lake City Community Church, 6000 N. Ramsey Road, Coeur d’Alene. A reception will follow the service.

Yates Funeral Home is in entrusted with the care of final arrangements.