Jerry Lee Etheridge

Jerry Lee Etheridge, 83, of Pensacola, Florida passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his family on August 20, 2025. Jerry was born August 31, 1941 in Sweet Water, Alabama to Oliver Watson Etheridge and Mamie Inez Thompson Etheridge. He graduated in the first graduating class of Escambia High School in 1959. He served in the Air Force Reserves until 1967, while working at Monsanto Chemical Plant. He was a chemical lab technician for 33 years and retired in 1996. He started roofing in 1970 and started his own company Etheridge Roofing while working at Monsanto and continued that business until 2005. Even though he had retired from Monsanto, in 2003 he started working at Bingo Paradise and retired in 2018 at the age of 76. He was an outstanding ball player, playing from the time he was 12. He played for the Monsanto baseball and softball teams and for Gonzalez Methodist church and at one time was on 5 different teams. He carried on his love for the sport by later coaching his son’s baseball teams. He was married to the love of his life, Valerie Harrison Etheridge, for 57 years and loved his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren more than life itself. He was a true family man. As shocking as it was to his children, he minded his grands and great-grands very well and his silliness for entertaining the grands had his kids shaking their heads. He was the best husband, father, and Grandaddy. He loved hunting with his sons and grandsons and loved fishing on a boat, he once shared with his sons for weekend fishing trips. Jerry is preceded in death by his parents, Oliver Watson and Mamie Inez Etheridge; sister, Elizabeth Kelly; and brother, Ray Etheridge. He is survived by his wife, Valerie Harrison Etheridge; daughter, Tamron (Tracy) Goodson, sons, Brian Etheridge, and Brent (Darenda) Etheridge; grandchildren, Jordan Goodson, Madison Goodson (Trey Williams), Avery (Heath) Cosby, Trevor Etheridge, Dalton Etheridge, Gage Etheridge, and Faith Etheridge; great-grandchildren, Braxtyn and Aurora Williams; sisters, Nell Mock, Sue Palmer, Velma (Jim) Brennan; and many loved sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, and nephews. Funeral Arrangements will be Friday, August 29, 2025 at Faith Chapel North, 1000 S Hwy 29, Cantonment, Florida 32533. Visitation Services will begin at 1:00 pm followed by funeral services at 2:00 pm with graveside services to follow at Pensacola Memorial Gardens, 7433 Pine Forest Road, Pensacola, FL 32526. Pallbearers will be Trevor Etheridge, Dalton Etheridge, Gage Etheridge, Trey Williams, TJ Monti, and Todd McCrory. For those who wish to do so, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Gonzalez Methodist Church, 2026 Pauline Street, Cantonment, FL 32533. Please reference “Jerry Etheridge memorial”. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Vitas Hospice, and especially Katie and Shannon who treated him with such love, care, and respect

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Jerry Lee Etheridge

August 31, 1941 - August 20, 2025