Gerard "Jerry" James Deeley, Jr.
August 2, 1932-February 7, 2010
Bella Vista, Arkansas
Gerard “Jerry” James Deeley, Jr., 77, of Bella Vista, Arkansas passed away Sunday, February
7, 2010 at Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale. He was born August 2, 1932 in Beverly,
Massachusetts to Gerard James Deeley, Sr. and Mary Julia Garvey Deeley.
Jerry graduated from Boston College with an A.B. in Philosophy and postgraduate studies in
History and Government. After graduation, Jerry proudly served four years in the U.S. Navy
as a Line Officer and a Russian Interpreter. In 1959 he joined the U.S Customs Service from
which he retired 34 years later. Within Customs he held various positions as appraiser and
classifier of imported merchandise, foreign customs advisor, special agent with the fraud
division, customs attaché, member of a U.S.-Saudi joint customs project, and instructor for
customs technical matters and behavioral sciences. His career took him and his family from
Massachusetts to Florida, Virginia, Ethiopia, Mexico, Tennessee, and Georgia.
All his life Jerry loved spending time at the beach, participating in or watching sports, and
growing in knowledge. He especially enjoyed sharing these passions with other people.
Whether walking along the beach with his family, watching the Super Bowl with grandkids or
discussing Dante’s Inferno at the kitchen table, Jerry valued the time he spent sharing these
activities with others. He enthusiastically taught politics and world religions to continuing
education students, he voluntarily tutored people studying for the GED exam, but he especially
enjoyed spending time teaching his grandchildren. He instilled his love for learning and reading
in many.
Jerry attended Fellowship Bible Church of NWA and cherished the great friendships he made
there.
He is preceded in death by one daughter, Caryll Deeley, and two brothers.
Jerry is survived by his wife of 53 years, Mary Jane Deeley; three sons, Joe Deeley and wife
Carolyn of Lakeland, TN, Tom Deeley and wife Leigh of Collierville, TN, Paul Deeley and wife
Rita of Evergreen, CO; three daughters, Catherine Deeley of Dallas, TX, Rose Nystrom and
husband Doug of Rogers, AR, Libby Deeley of Memphis, TN; one sister, Patricia Shatford and
husband George, of Manchester, NH; and ten grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Circle of Life Hospice, 901 Jones Road,
Springdale, Arkansas 72762.
Memorial services will be held at Chapel on the Creeks (I540 at Exit 83) on Saturday, February
20 at 10:30AM with full military honors provided by the American Legion Post #100. Burial
will be at the National Cemetery in Fayetteville at a later date.
7, 2010 at Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale. He was born August 2, 1932 in Beverly,
Massachusetts to Gerard James Deeley, Sr. and Mary Julia Garvey Deeley.
Jerry graduated from Boston College with an A.B. in Philosophy and postgraduate studies in
History and Government. After graduation, Jerry proudly served four years in the U.S. Navy
as a Line Officer and a Russian Interpreter. In 1959 he joined the U.S Customs Service from
which he retired 34 years later. Within Customs he held various positions as appraiser and
classifier of imported merchandise, foreign customs advisor, special agent with the fraud
division, customs attaché, member of a U.S.-Saudi joint customs project, and instructor for
customs technical matters and behavioral sciences. His career took him and his family from
Massachusetts to Florida, Virginia, Ethiopia, Mexico, Tennessee, and Georgia.
All his life Jerry loved spending time at the beach, participating in or watching sports, and
growing in knowledge. He especially enjoyed sharing these passions with other people.
Whether walking along the beach with his family, watching the Super Bowl with grandkids or
discussing Dante’s Inferno at the kitchen table, Jerry valued the time he spent sharing these
activities with others. He enthusiastically taught politics and world religions to continuing
education students, he voluntarily tutored people studying for the GED exam, but he especially
enjoyed spending time teaching his grandchildren. He instilled his love for learning and reading
in many.
Jerry attended Fellowship Bible Church of NWA and cherished the great friendships he made
there.
He is preceded in death by one daughter, Caryll Deeley, and two brothers.
Jerry is survived by his wife of 53 years, Mary Jane Deeley; three sons, Joe Deeley and wife
Carolyn of Lakeland, TN, Tom Deeley and wife Leigh of Collierville, TN, Paul Deeley and wife
Rita of Evergreen, CO; three daughters, Catherine Deeley of Dallas, TX, Rose Nystrom and
husband Doug of Rogers, AR, Libby Deeley of Memphis, TN; one sister, Patricia Shatford and
husband George, of Manchester, NH; and ten grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Circle of Life Hospice, 901 Jones Road,
Springdale, Arkansas 72762.
Memorial services will be held at Chapel on the Creeks (I540 at Exit 83) on Saturday, February
20 at 10:30AM with full military honors provided by the American Legion Post #100. Burial
will be at the National Cemetery in Fayetteville at a later date.
