Obituary of Jennifer Marie Gerrells

Jennifer Marie (nee Hassell) Gerrells was born October 7, 1961 in Biloxi, Mississippi where her father was stationed in the U.S. Air Force. She returned home to her Lord and Savior the morning of January 14, 2017 after 3-1/2 years battling colon cancer, dying as she wanted to, in her home with family on hand. Jennifer is survived by a large, extended family: her husband Timothy Eugene Gerrells, Sr (58); her children Jocelyn Anne Davis (31, husband Ryan), Timothy Eugene Gerrells, Jr. (28, wife Susie), Ariana Marie Duncan (26, husband Jared), David Patrick Gerrells (24), Michael Andrew Gerrells (21), Stephen Paul Gerrells (19), Peter George Gerrells (17), and Brenna Rose Gerrells (14); and her dear grandchildren: Victoria "Tori" Davis (10), Teresa "Teesa" Davis (8), Eugene "Ugi" Davis (4), Joseph "Joby" Duncan (5), Gwyneth "Tootsie" Duncan (3), Isabella "Bella" Duncan (1), and Thomas Ambrose Duncan (2 mos); her parents Joel Andre Hassell (79 , Tullahoma, TN) and Phyllis Marilyn Hassell (77, Westminster, CO); her siblings Joel Gerard Hassell (wife, Becky), Jocelyn Marine DelCampo, JonelleAnnette Bateman (husband Tim), Jeryl Lynn McGaw (husband Robert), and Joseph Martin Hassell; and by 24 nieces and nephews, and 11 grandnieces and grandnephews. Family was most important to Jennifer, and she would organize combined monthly birthday parties and other events for all the Colorado family members. In her early years Jennifer lived in many states, as her father was moved from one Air Force base to another. In her junior high school years she returned to Colorado living in Thornton until she left for college. She graduated from Holy Family Catholic H.S., attended St. Martin's College in Lacey, WA where she met, quickly fell in love with and eloped with her husband, Tim (much to the consternation of both sets of parents), being married by a Thurston County District Court Justice during aonce in a century blinding blizzard in Olympia, WA on January 8, 1980. She properly married her husband August 8, 1980 at Holy Family Catholic Church in Denver, CO. Later she graduated from Mary-Hardin Baylor University in Texas with a 4.0 GPA in Mathematics in 1990 and began graduate school at University of Colorado, Ft. Collins, for Statistics (Actuarial track) in 1997. As a U.S. Army officer's wife, Jennifer lived in Columbus, GA (Ft. Benning), Abtswind and later Kitzingen, W. Germany (Harvey Kaserne), Ft. Huachuca, AZ, in Copperas Cove, TX and Ft. Hood housing during which her husband, Tim, deployed to the Gulf War in 1990-91. , Jennifer became the "commander's wife" when her husband returned & assumed command of B Co, 312th MI Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division. After Tim left active duty in 1993, she lived in Thornton, CO and in 1999 moved to Elizabeth, CO realizing another dream to raise her children in a country environment with her dogs and barn cats, rescue horses, rabbits, ducks, chickens, quail, and the occasional mountain lion & skunk, fox, & herds of deer. During her military spouse days, Jennifer achieved a life's dream: showing her basenjis (Wrinkles and Lochinvar) and breeding five or six litters of pups that were in demand across Europe and North America. In her dog showing, Jennifer's Wrinkles earned German Champion basenji, German Champion dog (all breeds), and the amazing "Euro Sieger" or European Champion title from dog shows throughout central and southern Europe. When in Texas, Jennifer's basenjis earned only the third national Obedience title for a basenji ever from the AKC. She became a recognized expert on the breed in Germany and the U.S. These were incredibly proud memories for her. Jennifer was very devoted to her Roman Catholic faith and the Church. She deeply sought to raise all of her children to share that faith and devotion, ensuring they received all the sacraments at the right time wherever she was living. She attended Mass regularly, and was the bedrock for her family’s Christian faith. One of her last wishes was to encourage most strongly that each of her children continues that Catholic tradition in their lives, so vitally important did she consider it. Both Tim and Jennifer decided early to home-school all of their children through high school. This became a very important part of her life, and during her cancer years she continued and saw Steve and Pete graduate high school through Christian Home Educators of Colorado (CHEC). Four of the eight children have graduated college & three are currently in college. We willcontinue to home-school Brenna to complete that important life goal of Jennifer's. Jennifer began Tae Kwon Do martial arts and earned the 3rd Degree and was an instructor. She insisted on all of her children similarly earn at least 1st Degree (black belt) from Robin's Tae Kwon Do and later Omega Tao Martial Arts. This took considerable time and effort, with all eight children earning between 1st and 4th Don, but it was really important to her. For her sons, the Boy Scout program was of great importance. With the active support of Tim, all five of her sons earned the Eagle rank, and four earned a Silver Palm as well. This fulfilled a major life goal of hers and she was so very proud of that. This entailed a major commitment of time, effort and money, but Jennifer ardently believed the outdoors experience, character & good citizenship building, and leadership experience provided by Boy Scouts was worth every bit of the cost. She was a Den Leader in two Cub Scout packs, merit badge counselor and committee member in two Boy Scout troops. Her daughters were part of Girl Scouts when they were younger, and Brenna now is a Pioneer in American Heritage Girls. Jennifer's life centered on her husband, her children, her Catholic faith & devotions, homeschooling her children, the discipline instilled in martial arts and community service especially with Cub Scout, Boy Scout, & Girl Scout leadership & projects. She was brilliant, incredibly witty, was particularly gifted teaching math, and had a golden tongue for the English language, written or spoken. These gifts we always cherished. The greatest thing we will cherish is her open heart, her love and caring concern for family and friends. We will love you always, dearest Jennifer, mom…until the end of time. Please wait for us. Donations in Jennifer’s memory and honor, in lieu of flowers, can be offered to: Our Lady of the Visitation Catholic Church (The physical center of her Christian practice and worship) 34201 County Road 33 Kiowa, CO 80117 Recitation of the Rosary at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, January 20, 2017 with Funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 21, 2017 both at Our Lady of the Visitation Catholic Church, 34201 County Road 33 in Kiowa. Burial at Queen of Heaven Cemetery. Service Information