On Wednesday, September 8, 2021, Jerry Riley Spann, Sr, loving husband, father, and papaw, crossed over Jordan into the presence of his Lord and Savior at the age of 78.  Jerry was a member of Orion Missionary Baptist Church.  He loved Jesus, his family, church, and community.  He was a Free Mason, a member of the Scottish Rite and a Shriner.  Jerry served as a committee member for the Orion Cemetery Association.

Jerry was born November 21, 1942, in Sweet Home, Arkansas to Jerry Ras and Gladys (Lynn) Spann.  He worked for Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company (3M) in Little Rock. At the time of his retirement in 1996, Jerry was the Maintenance Project Manager.  March 27, 1962, he married Mary Ellen Drew of Benton, Illinois.  They raised three daughters and one son.  In his younger years, Jerry enjoyed a variety of horse racing events but the one he liked best was barrel pickup.  He and his horse, Jubilee, won many a trophy and ribbons over the years.  His middle years were spent on multiple building projects; houses for his kids, shops for his son and anything his church needed.   The later years he enjoyed fishing on Lake Erling and preparing Mrs. Mary the prefect hunting spot. Jerry started bee keeping, wine making, meat processing, gardening, and canning just to spend time with his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Jerry is survived by his wife of 59 years, Mary Ellen Spann; daughters Romona Jackson and husband Jeff, Jeannette Minyard and husband Kevin, son Jerry Spann, Jr, and wife Jennifer; sister Margaret Smith and husband Preston; grandchildren Rebecca Foster and husband Brian, Jeffrey Jackson Jr and wife Jessica, Chris Minyard and wife Erica, Johnny Spann and wife Magan, Riley Spann, Rosalyn Minyard; nine great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, and friends.  Jerry was proceeded in death by his mother Gladys Spann, father Jerry Ras Spann and daughter, Mary D. Spann.

Visitation will be at 2pm, Sunday, September 12, 2021, at Orion Missionary Baptist Church, 3826 Stagecoach Road, Redfield, Arkansas, followed by Life Celebration Services at 3pm.  Jerry will be laid to rest at Orion Cemetery.  Brother Maxie Haynes and Brother Jim Easley will be officiating the services.