Jerry C Gregory

Jerry C. Gregory, 78, of Alpha, passed away on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at Seasons Trimont Healthcare.

Memorial Talk will take place at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 20, 2023, at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in St. James. Service time in El Salvador will be 11:00 a.m. and Spain at 7:00 p.m.

A Celebration Gathering will follow the memorial service at Godahl Recreation Building, 22972 Co Rd 6, St James, MN 56081.

The memorial service will be available via Zoom.

 Zoom Link
 ID 782 010 1475
 Passcode Mat 2414

Jerry Clark Gregory was born on March 7, 1945, to Orville Worth and Dorothea Cathryn Gregory (Schmitz). Jerry was the youngest of three brothers when his life began in Jackson. Minnesota. The family were Jehovah's Witnesses.

When Jerry was 14 years old, he suffered from a spinal cord injury that left him partially paralyzed, yet he discovered solace in Jehovah. Whilst enduring such an ailment as a young man, Jerry escaped his reality by reading books and existed mostly in his imagination as he recovered in the hospital for several years. Despite Jerry's condition, he needed to continue his education, hence the innovation of school via phone that allowed Jerry to graduate from Jackson High School in 1964. After graduation, Jerry was invited to attend “Famous Artist School” and went on to receive a diploma in commercial art, illustration, and design in 1967. This opportunity allowed Jerry to express himself through various art forms including painting, sculpting, drawing, welding, carving and music.

 In 1974 the family moved to Alpha, Minnesota. Jerry became a local celebrity with his artistic ability through his 20's with his brand “Spindrift” and being a photo developer for his brother Jack's newspaper “Redwood Livewire”. Jerry's prayers to Jehovah of finding an exotic beauty to love were answered when Dina Marixa Vides Guzman from El Salvador came to town. He “stole her heart through her stomach” with his culinary skills. They married on June 6, 1986, in Alpha.  As a paraplegic, doctors told Jerry he would never have children, he went on to prove them wrong by having two daughters. Since Jerry's mobility was limited to hopping around with the aid of crutches, he played the “at home Dad” role and got a part time job as a tax office receptionist, until a tragic train accident left him wheelchair bound for life. Resiliently, Jerry kept wheeling around as he continued his thirst for knowledge with technology, playing his guitar, singing his heart out with his mellifluous voice and being a craftsman for as long as he was able. Jerry found enjoyment in fishing and outdoor gatherings with the family, being a mastermind creator and meandering around in his electric wheelchair or cruising with the top down in his Mustang Convertible “Calypso” in his alter-ego as the mischievous “Captain Phantom”.

In 2019, he became a resident of Seasons Health Care facility in Trimont, where his loving wife Dina is a nurse full time, so they could spend the remainder of his life together. Throughout his trials and tribulations, Jerry remained with his faith in Jehovah, which gave him strength to persevere over the years. Throughout Jerry's life he contributed valuable medical study information to spinal cord injury research. On May 6, 2023, at the age of 78 Jerry succumbed to the forces of nature, outliving all the odds for someone of his condition, providing proof of miracles.

Jerry is survived by his wife Dina Gregory, two daughters; Marixa “Rixa” Gregory and Bridget “Jet” Gregory, 1 grandchild; Mystra Johnson and Special cousin Tom Gregory and wife Penny Gregory. 4 Nieces and 1 nephew. 8 brothers in law, 4 sisters in law and his 2 Grand giraffes; Pijang Johnny and Pajigi Jigi.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents Orville and Dorothy Gregory; Father-in-Law Antonio Vides, Mother -in- law Paz Cecilia Guzman, brother Jack Gregory; sister- in- law Margot Benites and her son Cesar Benites

Rest in love, and Rise in Paradise Captain Phantom 

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