Jeraldene "Jerry" Pilkilton

Jerry Pilkilton, 83, went to be with the Lord on Friday, July 15, 2016, after being admitted to the hospital on Thanksgiving Day for upper respiratory infection and battling the weakness that ensued due to that hospitalization. She spent each day since that time in various hospital and rehab facilities trying to get strong enough to come back home. Born July 14, 1933, in Greenwood, Texas, she was the daughter of Joseph Poynor., and Lydia Regina (Youngblood) Poynor. She graduated from Paschal High School in Fort Worth in 1950, and worked as a secretary for several oil companies immediately out of high school. She eventually went to college at Hardin Simmons University in Abilene, Texas.

On a trip home for Thanksgiving with her suite mate to Denison, she was introduced to a wonderful man, Eddie Pilkilton. They were sent by themselves to the store for bread the minute they arrived to Denison. She then married him just a short six months later on May 29, 1958. They started their married life in Waxahachie where Eddie took the position of Manager of the Babcock’s store there and she began working in downtown Dallas at another oil company. Three children and twelve years later, they moved to Denison where she was homemaker and provided a wonderful environment full of love for her children to grow up in. From 1985 to 1995, she worked at the Water Dept for the City of Denison, then retired and traveled with her love as much as they could.

She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church where she taught the 4-year-old and 5-year-old children for about 20-25 years. In her later years, she enjoyed her adult Sunday School class and always looked forward to going out to eat with all of them once a month when she was able to make it.

She loved being a mother and grandmother, enjoying the grandkids most of all; and they could do no wrong in her eyes. She also enjoyed staying up late and playing a mean game of cards or double twelve dominoes; she was very hard to beat. She was very talented with cooking, and had an array of beloved dishes. No matter what, everyone wanted her to bring her famous potato salad and homemade bread-and-butter pickles – having one jar of them go for over $80 at a family reunion! She was very good at crafting, from crochet to tole painting to making stuffed animals with quilts. She was truly loved, enjoyed and adored by all who knew her.

Jerry Pilkilton is survived by her son Denis Pilkilton of Denison, daughter Lori Kremling and husband Larry of Gainesville, daughter Jana Dennis and husband Dale of Denison, granddaughter Ashley Beane and husband Randy of Richardson, grandsons Cody Kremling and wife Megan of Concrete, Ryan Kremling and wife Kayla of Whitesboro and Zak Dennis of Denison, great-granddaughters Audrey Mae Kremling of Concrete, Ender Renee Beane and Maren Valentine Beane of Richardson, and great-grandson Colton Ryan Kremling of Gainesville, sister-in-law Dorothy Chambers of Del Rio, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews along with many cousins and many friends.

Jerry was preceded in death by her husband Eddie Pilkilton Jr., her parents, 3 sisters, and 1 brother.

The family night will be at Bratcher Funeral Home in Denison, Texas, on Friday, July 22 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and the service will be at Victory Life Church in Sherman, Texas, on Saturday, July 23 at 10 a.m., with Larry Kremling presiding. Interment will follow at Cedarlawn Memorial Cemetery. Funeral services are under the direction of George J. Carroll Funeral Home in Gainesville, Texas.

Pallbearers are Ryan Kremling, Zak Dennis, David Huffman, Randy Beane, Bob Spangler, Richard Gearinger, and Mike Campbell.