Gerald Buckley Ayres, age 94, formerly of Lewisport, passed away peacefully at his home in Nicholasville, Ky on November 4, 2024. He was born August 28, 1930 in Lewisport. To family and friends, he was known as “Jerry” and was one of eight children of the late Samuel C. Ayres and Katy Lou (King) Ayres. He was preceded in death earlier this year by Samuel C. Ayres Jr., his oldest brother and also Dorothy Hayden Nutt his former wife, mother of his two children.
Survivors include his two sons Stephen Gerald Ayres (Danielle) of Nicholasville, Kentucky and Bradley Lloyd Ayres (Jimena), of Estero, Florida. Jerry is also survived by his siblings Phillip, Betty Boltinghouse, Peggy Parsons, Henry (Gail), Mary Buck (Dan), and Charlotte. He has six grandchildren – Dexter Ayres, Nicholasville; and Lauren, Madeline, and Katherine Ayres of Jupiter, Florida, Isabella Buenaver of Miami, Florida and Maria Pombo of Orlando, Florida.
Jerry lived most of his life in Lewisport growing up from a boy to a young man in the Adair community where he helped with the family farm. He started school at The Linton School, a one-room schoolhouse on Adair Road and then attended the “new” Lewisport Grade and High School when it was built. He graduated from Lewisport High School in 1948 and right after graduation Jerry continued to work on the family farm.
In 1951, he enlisted in the US Navy. During his time of service, he was a Damage Controlman aboard two naval destroyers – the USS Putnam and USS Wood until his discharge in 1955. After returning home from service, Jerry took a job with Kelly & Wilmore operating a forklift and backhoe on various utility trenching projects along Kentucky’s roads. During off times from Kelly & Wilmore, Jerry helped Tommy Emmick with his gas station in Lewisport. Desiring steady work closer to home in order to raise a family, Jerry took a job at American Olean Tile in 1959 where he worked as a supply manager until his retirement in 1992.
Jerry was a member of The Lewisport Methodist Church, sang in the choir for a number of years and helped with fundraising activities such as church concession stands at the county fair and town festivals. In the 80’s Jerry was active in The Lewisport Lions Club. He was selected as Lion of the Year in ’87 and during local events where the Lions Club was involved, he could be found spraying and turning chickens on the barbeque pits at the Lewisport Community Center. He helped coach little league baseball teams in which his sons Bradley and Stephen participated.
After he retired from the tile plant in ’92, Jerry was a daily fixture around Lewisport riding his bike or driving and making his rounds – checking on his mom, visiting with friends at gathering places like Eli’s and Bennio’s and spending summer afternoons watching barges at the Lewisport Boat Ramp before settling in for the night watching sports on TV. And yes, Jerry was an avid sports fan and he considered the University of Kentucky Wildcats “his” team.
In 2021, Jerry moved to Nicholasville to live with Stephen and Danielle, son and daughter-in-law where he made his home there until his passing.
Services are at 1:00 pm Friday November 8, 2024 at Gibson & Son Funeral Home, Lewisport Chapel with burial Following in Lewisport Cemetery. Jerry’s family will be greeting friends from 10:00 am until service time. Online condolences may be left for Jerry’s family at www.gibsonandsonfh.com. In lieu of flowers, the family would like to request expressions of sympathy as memorial contributions in Jerry Ayres’ name directed to The Lewisport United Methodist Church, 450 4th St, Lewisport, KY 42351.