Jake Geron

Alva J. “Jake” Geron
Funeral Services for Alva J. “Jake” Geron, 91, of Brownfield will be held at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, January 16, 2008 at First Baptist Church with Rev. Randy Land officiating. Graveside services and burial will be at Terry County Memorial Cemetery under the direction of Brownfield Funeral Home.

Jake was born on a ranch near Paris, Texas on September 26, 1916 to George E. and Alva Jemison Geron. He graduated from Whitharral High School as Valedictorian in 1936, and attended Texas Tech University, receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1941. While at Tech, he lettered on the Red Raider basketball team.
Jake was a B-24 pilot in the United States Army Air Corps from 1942 through 1945. He flew thirteen combat missions and received the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, and Presidential Unit Citation. He was interned in Switzerland for 8 months in 1943. He attained the rank of Major.
While receiving flight training at Lubbock Flying School, Jake met Beth Hamilton, a Tech student. They married on May 29, 1944, and settled in Brownfield after his discharge.
Jake worked with the Farmer’s Home Administration and Veteran’s Vocational School of Terry County before joining the City of Brownfield as City Secretary in 1952. He became Assistant City Manager in 1954 and served as City Manager from 1966 until his retirement in 1983. Jake was a life member of the International City Managers’ Association. He took leadership roles in many regional and state municipal associations.
Jake was a leader in the Lion’s Club, lifelong member of the Lion’s Crippled Children’s Camp, Goodfellows, XYZ Senior Citizens Center, United Way and the Brownfield Chamber of Commerce. He was named Terry County Outstanding Citizen in 1973. He was a member of the Brownfield Masonic Lodge and a Thirty-Second Degree Scottish Rite Mason. He served on the Board of Directors of the First Bank of Brownfield from 1977 until his death.
Jake was a deacon of the First Baptist Church and taught Sunday school for over 50 years.

He is survived by his wife, Beth; a daughter, Lynda Beth; and a son-in-law, Joseph Shumate. He is also survived by one brother, Charles Geron of Corpus Christi and one sister, Billie Muse of Burleson.
Pallbearers will be Dick Fletcher, Jack Pinson, Mike Swain, Jack Cargill, Johnny Willis, Bill McGowan II, Mike Richardson and L.J. Richardson.

Honorary pallbearers will be Odell Sears, the Directors of the First Bank of Brownfield and Jake’s coffee buddies.

Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church Building Fund of Brownfield or to Jake Geron Park, City of Brownfield.