Jerry Jay Campbell
March 26, 1941 - May 1, 2025
Jerry Campbell, age 84, passed away peacefully on May 1, 2025 in Knoxville, TN. He was born on March 26, 1941, in Alpena, Michigan, the second child of three.
He is preceded by his parents, Waldo Carl and Gladys Campbell and his brother, Allen. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Nancy Campbell, his brother, Dennis (Mary Ann), his nieces, Bonnie, Paula, Katherine (Katie), Sara and Karen and nephews, Raymond and Daniel (Danny) and many, many grand nieces and nephews and three great, great nieces, Vrinda. Emma and Ava.
Jerry attended Thomas Houghton Elementary School and Redford High School in Detroit, Michigan, where he graduated in 1959. He then went on to RETS (Radio, Electronics, Television School) and finished at EIT (another electronics and television school). Subsequently, landing a job at Channel 56 in Detroit on the engineering staff. Channel 50, in Southfield, was just starting up, so he was in at the beginning of that on air television station where he worked for almost 30 years. The station changed hands several times from Field Communications, to a CBS and a Paramont affiliate. He retired when he was 56 and started a company called Service Support. Service Support, basically catered to Channel 50’s Engineering and Set Design needs, which Jerry was happy to continue to help. During that time, Jerry and Nancy moved from Detroit to Bloomfield Township, where they made new neighbor friends. Jerry took care of the 1/3 acre lot, and enjoyed it very much. Jerry and his wife, Nancy loved going off-roading with their Jeep. They joined a four wheeling group called the Mud Chuggers. They raced their Jeeps. The Club planned events with Chrysler Corporation to teach new people how to go four wheeling in their Jeeps on the myriad of trails though out the forests of Michigan.
Once Nancy retired, they decided to move to a warmer climate. After checking out 51 of the States, (not Alaska), they kept coming back to Tennessee and Tellico Village. Finally our friends, who were neighbors of ours in Bloomfield, said come on down and enjoy this beautiful Village. Which we did. We bought a home on the lake, plus a small cruiser so we could spend nights out on the boat. Jerry soon got into the swing of things with boating. He was very active in the Tellico Cruising Club and became Communications Officer for many years, putting out the TCC newsletter via computer.
He joined the Knoxville Power Squadron, and enjoyed many overnights in various rivers and lakes with them. He also became a certified Vessel Inspector for the KPS. Another organization he was very active in was T-BART (Tellico Boaters Assistance Rescue Team) here on Tellico Lake. He was a Captain for several years. When he was unable to help as a Captain, he set up the T-BART Ship’s Store in our dining room, and “Captained” that until his passing. Another passion of Jerry’s, was cars. We joined the Vintage Car Club (renamed Tellico Car Club). He enjoyed going on many of the road trips in and around East Tennesee.
Jerry was very social, he loved playing cards, dominoes and eating out with all our friends. Jerry was loved by many, many people, especially for his sense of humor and lovely, lovely smile.
A Celebration of Life will be held May 13, 2025 at the Tellico Community Church at 11am. A lunch will follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to T-BART, P O Box 1433, Lenoir City TN 37771.
https://www.clickfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Jerry-Jay-Campbell?obId=42370294