JERRY ROBERT DICKSON

October 23, 1951 - February 15, 2021

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Jerry's Obituary

Jerry Robert Dickson was born 10/23/1951 in Shattuck, Oklahoma, to Billy Joe and Janice (Collins) Dickson. He grew up in Altus and attended Grace Methodist Church. He graduated from Altus High School in 1969 and from Altus Junior College (now Western Oklahoma State College) in 1971. He graduated from Oklahoma College of Liberal Arts (now University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma) in 1973, majoring in speech and hearing therapy. He was very active at both AJC and OCLA serving as student council president at both institutions and in other campus leadership roles. Jerry spent many years teaching various classes in Cheyenne Public Schools and serving as speech therapist at various school districts in western Oklahoma. Once he retired, he became a certified massage therapist for a few years. During this time, he began working with another passion of his – renovating houses. He took great pride in all his projects and loved his clients and those crafters who worked with him – many who became very close friends. He said he never advertised because he didn’t want to work that hard – yet seemed to always have multiple projects going at once. 

Jerry loved music. He was in band in high school and worked at the former Southwestern Music while in high school and at the junior college. Once he moved to Elk City after graduating from college, he served First United Methodist Church for many years as organist. He was also a sponsor of the Methodist Youth Fellowship at the church and maintained many of those relationships through the end of his life. Jerry served as board member at the Red Carpet Community Theater in Elk City and directed numerous plays and musicals for many years. He appreciated good musicianship and enjoyed attending organ concerts and musical events. 

He loved his family – especially spending time throughout his life with his maternal grandparents (Richard and Vera Collins) on their farm in Arnett. He spent endless hours on the farm working alongside his grandpa or in the kitchen listening to stories told by his grandmother. He formed special relationships with relatives and other children in Arnett. Jerry’s parents got involved in genealogy and he loved spending time learning about his ancestors and tracing family members. 

Travel, Mexican food, and watching Lawrence Welk were other past times he enjoyed. He never met a stranger and had a big smile, a big personality, but a bigger heart. He helped so many people of all ages. He truly had a servant heart.

Jerry passed away Monday, February 15, in his sleep. There will always be a huge hole in the hearts of all his family and friends. 

He was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include his brother, James Dickson of Denver; his sister, Renee Dickson Hoback and husband Buddy of Midwest City; his nephews Billy Dickson and wife Danielle of Denver; Ryan Hoback of Oklahoma City, and his niece Rachel Dickson Barker and husband Andy of Colorado Springs. Jerry is also survived by his bonus family: step-mother LaDean Dickson; step-brothers Jerry Dart and Robby Dart of Altus; step-sister Christy Dart Woods and husband Earl of Frederick. He also had two great-nephews and a host of wonderful friends.

Graveside service will be at 1:00 P.M., Thursday, February 25 at DeBolt Cemetery in Arnett, OK.