Gerald "Jerry" Carter Stephens

Gerald “Jerry” Carter Stephens, age 91, died peacefully at MorningView Transitional Care Center in Maryville, Tennessee with family by his side. Gerald was born on September 11, 1931 in Anniston, Alabama, the son of  Cecil and Bertie (Carter) Stephens. He graduated from Piedmont High School in 1949 and joined the Air Force. Upon completion of basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in 1950, Gerald was assigned to the Ordnance Depot in Pueblo, Colorado where he met his future wife, Jean Childress. They wed in 1952 and moved to Hill Air Force Base in Ogden, Utah. Gerald served in the Air Force until 1954.

Gerald and his family moved to Miami, Florida where he graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Institute in 1957. He worked briefly for Pan American Airways as an Airframe and Powerplant mechanic, and then began a 35-year career with Delta Air Lines. Gerald worked for Delta in Chicago and Miami, eventually settling in Maryville, Tennessee in 1974.

After retiring from Delta in 1993, Gerald became a certified group fitness instructor and certified personal trainer. He was employed by Blount Memorial Wellness Center where he taught a variety of classes, including line dancing, for more than 20 years. 

He enjoyed being with his family, coaching baseball, household and auto maintenance, traveling, listening to music, watching birds, and hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  He was a gentle soul who always had time to listen and laugh.

Gerald was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 69 years, his brother, Jimmy Stephens of Homestead, Florida, and sister Carolyn Joan Barrett of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Left to cherish his memory are his daughter, Kaerin Stephens and her husband, Dale Vinson, of Anchorage, Alaska; his son, Gregory Stephens of Knoxville, Tennessee; two grandchildren Emily Stephens and Maya Vinson; and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will accompany the inurnment of Gerald’s cremains at Grandview Cemetery on Saturday, May 27th at 1pm.  Those who wish to honor Gerald in a special way may make gifts in his memory to The Alzheimer's Association.

To visit Jerry's late wife Jean's obituary:  https://www.smithfuneralandcremation.com/obituaries/jean-stephens-4