Jerald D. Bush was born July 7, 1949 in Wichita, Kansas to Walter J. Bush and Lila Avis Lee. Jerry attended school in Wichita and then Anthony.

Jerry married Mary Armstrong and was blessed with two children: Michelle and Scot.

After serving in Vietnam he returned to Anthony where he did what he loved the most, laying carpet. Jerry was known as the best carpet layer around and laid carpet from Wichita to Kechi and of course the Anthony and Harper area. He also worked at Cessna for a short time.

In 1998, Jerry began seeing Mary Jo LaPlant and they married on December 26, 2003 in Zapata, Texas. Jerry raised her three sons, Corey, Billy Joe and Leonard, as his own. He and Mary Jo continued laying carpet together while Jerry also worked for USD 361 at Chaparral and Anthony Elementary. He was known as the cookie monster to the little kids he loved and always said to "teach them while they are young and they will grow up respecting their elders."

After Jerry suffered an aneurysm of the aorta, followed by four strokes, he always felt at some point he would be able to return to work as he always said "you can't keep a good man down." Sadly he realized he would not be able to go back to work.

Jerry knew no stranger and if asked how he was doing he always replied with "perfect!" He was young at heart and there was never a dull moment when you were around him!! He tinkered around home a lot to keep his self busy for 8 years, until his good, loving heart got tired and God took him home.

May 2, 2017, Jerry passed away in Houston, Texas. He was preceded in death by his father, Walter Bush; son, Corey Jenks; and siblings: James, Eddie and Nancy Bush.

Those left to honor his memory are his mother, Lila Hicks; his wife, Mary Jo Bush; his children: Michelle Base and Scot Bush and Billy Joe and Leonard Foss; siblings: Walter "Butch" Bush, Johnnie Bush, Catherine Bush, Tommy Brown, Paula Pearson; parents-in-law, Jim and Dee LaPlant; 4 grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and many friends.

Memorial service will be held 2:00 p.m. Thursday, May 18, 2017 at Prairie Rose Funeral Home in Anthony. Friends may register 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. Memorials may be made to the Jerry Bush Memorial Fund and may be sent in care of the funeral home.

Prairie Rose Funeral Homes, 602 E. Main St., Anthony, KS 67003, is in charge of arrangements.