Jacksonville - A memorial service for Jerry Barnett, 93, of Jacksonville, will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 14, 2026, at Autry Funeral Home, with Pastor Bonnie Olsteen officiating.

Jerry was born April 23, 1932, in Arkansas City, Kansas, to Herman Delmar Barnett and Laura (Eckley) Barnett. Even as a baby, Jerry was known for his cheerful spirit—he proudly held the title of "The Happiest Baby in Arkansas City." That bright outlook stayed with him throughout his life and became one of the qualities his beloved wife Sara and those who knew him treasured most.

Blessed with athletic ability and a strong work ethic, Jerry went on to play AAA baseball after high school for the New York Giants, an accomplishment he remembered with pride and gratitude throughout his life.

Jerry attended Southern Methodist University, where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta, and later continued his studies at the University of California, Los Angeles. After returning to Dallas from California, he noticed Sara across Sorority Row near the SMU campus. Determined to meet her, he enlisted the help of a mutual friend, Buddy Williamson, who made the introduction that would change both of their lives. Jerry and Sara were married on June 20, 1959, in a family ceremony in Jacksonville, held at the Keasler family home as it was just being completed.

During their early years together in Dallas, Jerry indulged his appreciation for distinctive automobiles by purchasing a classic English Morgan sports car, a hand-built wooden roadster that he proudly had shipped over from England—one of many small adventures that reflected his curiosity and enjoyment of life.

Jerry built a long and respected career as a stockbroker. He served his clients at E. F. Hutton, Merrill Lynch, and RBC Wealth Management. Jerry approached his work the same way he approached life—with diligence, fairness, and a genuine desire to help people make wise decisions for their families. He was widely known as an honest and fair-minded businessman.

Beginning in the early 1980s, Jerry served as office manager of the Merrill Lynch office in Tyler for over a decade. During his career, he had the special privilege of working alongside his son, Frank, and he was proud to see his daughter enter the same industry in Bryan, Texas. Jerry had a deep interest in the technical side of the market and especially enjoyed technical analysis. He was known for the intricate "point and figure" stock charts he created meticulously by hand, often using them to guide thoughtful recommendations for his clients.

Jerry was a member of St. Matthew's United Methodist Church.

Outside of work, Jerry enjoyed an active and curious life. In earlier years he loved riding his bicycle, playing golf and tennis, winemaking, and spending time near the water. For a time, he was especially fond of sailboats, until he bought a motorboat and discovered that perhaps he didn't love boating quite as much as he thought. Later in life, he enjoyed building intricate model ships and developed a passion for oil painting.

Some of Jerry's happiest moments were the simple ones: sharing dinner with his family, traveling with his beloved wife Sara, or sitting by a roaring fire with Tony Bennett or Frank Sinatra playing on the stereo, a glass of red wine in his hand.

Jerry's sense of humor and familiar sayings became part of daily family life. When raising a toast, he would say, "To the biggest bull market in history." When discussing the stock market, he liked to predict, "To the moon by June." At the dinner table he would declare every meal "Mighty good."

Jerry was kind, generous, humble, and always interested in others. He had a remarkable ability to stay upbeat and positive, rarely in a bad mood and quick with a smile. Nothing made him happier than seeing his wife Sara walk into the room. His humor and warmth remained with him until the very end.

Jerry passed away March 3, 2026, in Jacksonville at the age of 93.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife, Sara Barnett; his son Frank Delmar Barnett and wife Jacqueline of Tyler; his daughter Laura Barnett Lion of Jacksonville; and his grandchildren Henry Delmar Barnett, Harrison Keasler Barnett, Hugh Walker Barnett, Andrew Armstrong Lion, and Sarah Louise Lion.

Jerry's family will carry forward his sense of humor, his kindness and generosity toward others, and his enduring reminder not to take ourselves too seriously.

And we can imagine him now in heaven, still raising a glass and offering his favorite toast:

"To the biggest bull market in history."