Jerry E. Hitt, age 83, of Marshall, MO, died Tuesday, October 5, 2021, at home.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, October 13, at St. Peter Catholic Church in Marshall, with Fr. Francis Doyle officiating. Visitation will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Burial will follow at Ridge Park Cemetery in Marshall.
Memorials are suggested to St. Peter Catholic Church or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, in care of Campbell-Lewis Funeral Home in Marshall. Friends may sign the online register book at www.campbell-lewis.com.
Born March 17, 1938, in Clinton, MO, he was the son of the late Dallas Eugene Hitt and Dorothy Cordell Holcomb Hitt. Jerry grew up in Kirksville, MO where he was a graduate of Northeast Missouri State Teacher’s College, now Truman State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration. In August of 1961, he married Vicki Charlene Gottman. They had three children and divorced in 1974. On April 14, 1989, he married Mildred Muenks who survives of the home. On July 10, 1961, he went to work for Prudential Insurance Company. He moved to Marshall in December of 1968 when he took a promotion with Prudential. Over the years he qualified for over 25 conventions and received numerous awards. Jerry worked over 36 years for Prudential as an agent and manager, retiring in 1997. During that same time he spent six years in the Army Reserves. After retirement, Jerry enjoyed family and their activities, fishing, volunteering at church, trips to Texas, mid-morning coffee trips to McDonald’s, and riding around town in his pick-up truck. Jerry was a member of St. Peter Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus Council 876.
In addition to his wife, Mildred, he is survived by three children, Greg (Amy) Hitt of Arlington, VA, Christi (Robert II) Pannell and Dana Sanchez of Marshall; stepchildren, Theresa Brown of Lake Ozark, MO and Debby (Robert) Herrick of Harrisonville, MO; 10 grandchildren, Cory (Josh) Hey of the United Kingdom, Elinor Hitt of Cambridge, MA, Robert (Mechelle) Pannell III of Slater, MO, Zachary Pannell of Los Angeles, CA, Jordan Pannell of Antioch, TN, Xaviera (Matt) Wood of Blue Springs, MO, Joel (Salmai) Sanchez of Redlands, CA, Haven Sanchez of Marshall, Chloe and Clint Herrick of Harrisonville; two great-grandchildren, Robert Pannell IV of Slater and Rosemary Hey of the United Kingdom; one sister, Nancy (Dale) Rankin of Seneca, MO; nephews and a niece; and several others who called his house “home” over the years.