SALINA — Jerry Ronald Reames, 62, died June 28, 2011, at Kenwood View Nursing Home in Salina.
He was born June 18, 1949, at Paris, Arkansas, the son of Roy Lee and Mathilda Kowalsky Reames.
Jerry grew up in Ellinwood, attending St. Joseph School and Ellinwood High School. He married Teresa Kincaid on June 15, 1973, in Boomer, W. Va. They were divorced. He later married Reiko Yukawa August 1, 1991, in Fukuoka, Japan. They also divorced.
Jerry enlisted in the U.S. Navy in September of 1968 and retired in August of 1994, an ABFC (Aviation Boatswain’s Mate Chief Petty Officer). His tours of duty included the USS Iwo Jima; USS Independence; Naval Air Station, Lakehurst, N.J.; Mobile Aviation Fuels Team, Norfolk, Va.; USS Inchon; Naval Station Brig, Norfolk, Va.; Marine Corps Air Station, Iwakuni, Japan; and Naval Air Station, Agana, Guam.
During his career, he earned the Navy Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal (5 awards), Presidential Unit Citation, National Defense Service Medal (2 awards), Vietnam Service Medal, Sea Service Ribbon, (6 awards), Overseas Service Ribbon (6 awards) and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
Survivors include sons, Jerry, Jr., Clarksburg, W. Va., and Chad, Charleston, W. Va; daughters, Shelly Gillenwater, Griffithsville, W. Va., and Sarah Reames, Casselberry, Fla.; a stepfather Ray Kincaid, Hutchinson; sisters, Rena Spanier, Colorado Springs, Colo.; and Mary Ann Zink, Larned; grandchildren, Christian Quinonez, Jeri Paige, Tobias, Chad, Jr., Jazmin, Damion, Brandon and Isaic Reames, and Triston and Hayley Gillenwater; and longtime companion, Hope Biles, Salina.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Mathilda Kowalsky Kincaid, his father, an infant brother, Roy, Jr., and a grandson, Justin.
A graveside service with military honors is scheduled at 9 a.m. Monday, Aug. 8 at Lakin-Comanche Cemetery, Ellinwood with Father Charles Mazouch officiating. Visitation will follow at St. Joseph Parish Hall in Ellinwood.
The family, in gratitude for the dedication and sacrifice of America’s military, suggests memorials to the USO: on-line at www.uso.org, or by mail to USO, Department WS, P. O. Box 96860, Washington, D.C. 20090-6860.
Condolences may be sent to the family at 108 E. 15th Street, Larned, KS, 67550, or on-line at www.valleyoflife.com/Jerry_Reames.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Carlson-Geisendorf Funeral Home*
500 S. Ohio
Salina, KS,  67401
785-823-3456.
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Aug. 3, 2011