JERRY MACK GILES was born on Oct. 9, l938 in Vinita, OK
to Oleta Dennis Giles & Troy John Giles. He died on
Nov. 22, 2014 after a very long battle with Alzheimer’s.
Interment was in Rest Haven Memorial Park.
He was predeceased by his parents and his brother, Troy
John Giles, Jr. Jerry is survived by his wife, Marilyn
of Rockwall; son & wife, Brett and Francie Giles of Austin;
son and wife, Mark and Whitney Giles of Dallas; & daughter
and husband, Kristen and Jim Weichel of Rockwall. Also, he
leaves a legacy of grandchildren Victoria Giles, Alexandra
Giles, Mack Giles, Joe Giles, Anna-Kate Weichel & Griffith
Weichel. He is also survived by his sister & his brother-
in-law, Carol and Harold Paden of Oklahoma City and sister-
in-law Dianna Giles Masters and husband, Danny Masters of
Edmund, OK. Jerry is survived by numerous nieces & nephews.
Jerry graduated from Sand Springs High School in l956. He
attended Miami Jr. College for two years before joining the
United States Marine Corps. While in the Marines, Jerry was
accepted into the Navy Enlisted Scientific Education Program,
which awarded him the opportunity to earn his BS in Electrical
Engineering at Oklahoma University. It is during this time
that he married his wife of almost 53 years, Marilyn Cheatham
Giles. Upon graduation he received his commission as a 2nd Lt.
in USMC. One year later he left Marilyn and his two sons in
29 Palms, CA to serve a 13 month tour in Viet Nam. Jerry left
the military with the rank of captain. He then began his career
with Lucent Technology which at that time had the name Western
Electric. He earned his MBA while working at Western Electric
in Oklahoma City. During his career he held numerous management
positions including Manufacturing Manager, Engineering Director,
and Plant Facilities Director. In October l994 Lucent Technology
won the very coveted Deming Prize for quality management. Lucent
Technology was the first American company to win this award. He
played an integral part in this accomplishment.
Following his professional career, Jerry and Marilyn retired to
his cherished Serendipity Simbrah Ranch in Poetry, Texas. These
years in the country shared with his family will leave a lifetime
of cherished memories for many.
Jerry loved sports & spent years coaching & mentoring his children’s
youth football, baseball and soccer teams. Jerry enjoyed playing
tennis, handball, racquetball, and golf. Golf was his favorite and
even after the Alzheimer’s began to advance he still handled the
golf club with great skill. Jerry was reared and baptized as a
youth in the Church of Christ. As an adult he was a member of First
Christian Church, Disciples of Christ. He worked diligently in the
church in numerous positions including Chairman of the Church Board.
In recognition of his contributions toward construction of the new
church facility, a stained glass window resides in the sanctuary
today in his honor.