Gerald F. “Jerry” Dickerson, 82, and a resident of Piedmont died recently.
He was born in 1936 on the farm near Piedmont and had experience as a mechanic, farmer-rancher, and also a life time educator.
His career included Teacher-Coach, High School Principal, Superintendent and Educational Consultant.
He is survived by his loving wife, Lois Marie, they were married for 62 years. Jerry and Lois had two sons, Floyd Dean (Deceased) and wife Janet, Bruce Wayne and his wife Kathy, and four grandchildren: Brandon, David, Jonathan, and Jakob. Also, they have five great grandchildren.
He also is survived by his brother, Ken Dickerson and sister, Thelma Dickerson. A sister, Alice Mehlig preceded him in death.
He was raised on the farm and moved to McPherson, Kansas for junior high school; then Enid, OK for high school. He moved home to Piedmont during his junior year of high school. He attended seven universities earning four degrees and he also served in the Air Force.
He taught and coached at Deer Creek and Tulsa, OK and was a Physical Director with the El Paso, Texas YMCA. He served as a Superintendent of Schools at Long Pine and Loup County and as a High School Principal at O’Neill in Nebraska while helping Lois’ family as her mother was deceased.
In returning to Oklahoma, he was an administrator serving as an Assistant Principal at John Marshall, High School Principal at Heritage Hall, High School Principal, Assistant Superintendent and Superintendent at Deer Creek, and High School Principal and Superintendent at Bethany.
He was a registered lobbyist of 10 years at the Oklahoma State Capital. He was active in church and civic leadership. He was honored as State Superintendent of the Year and The Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame. He was recognized by the Bethany and Piedmont Hall of Fames and Hall of Honor for Bethany Public Schools.
He loved his students and patrons and dedicated his life to social and educational service, his family and serving God.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Piedmont United Methodist Church.
