Obituary for Jerry Lynn Pennington
Jerry Lynn Pennington passed to his eternal life on June 14th, 2023. Jerry considered his home to be Stearns, KY, where he lived with his beloved wife, Libby, and raised his two daughters, Lauren and Lyndsey.
Funeral services were held Saturday, June 17, 2023, in the chapel of the Hickman-Strunk Funeral Home with Bro. Braxton King officiating. Burial followed in the Jones-Waters Cemetery in Co-op.
Jerry Lynn Pennington was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on February 21st, 1966 to his parents Anna Ruth Chesnut and Jimmy Joe Pennington. He spent the majority of his childhood between northern Kentucky, where he had fond memories of his family’s farm in Campbell County, and Scott County, Tennessee, where he spent much time with his grandmother, Hazel Hall Pennington. Jerry heard the gospel as a child at a Church of the Nazarene in northern Kentucky, and would later be baptized into the Baptist faith. He attended churches Whitley City First Baptist, Stearns First Baptist, and Resurrection Life Christian Center.
Jerry moved to McCreary County in 1982, where he attended McCreary Central High School. He graduated from MCHS in 1984. His favorite memories from that time included performing with the MCHS Madrigal Singers under the tutelage of Christopher Hubbs, meeting lifelong friends and future bandmates, and unknown to them both at the time, encountering his future wife, Libby Waters.
Jerry was very proud to have been a U.S. Veteran, serving in the National Guard from 1984-1990.
On June 15th, 1991, he married the love of his life, Libby Waters, at Stearns First Baptist Church. Their journey together was one of unconditional, abiding love that began as an eight-year long friendship and developed into 32 years of marriage. On their third wedding anniversary, June 15th, 1994, their first daughter, Lauren Elizabeth Pennington, was born, and Jerry’s life was forever changed as he took on the name “Dad.” Jerry and Libby welcomed their second daughter, Lyndsey Jayne Pennington, on March 31, 1998. Jerry would often remark to his baby girls what miracles he thought they were, and when they were both in their mother’s womb he would often play guitar to soothe them to sleep. They were his pride and his joy. He was an exemplary father and husband - the world’s best.
Jerry was known by many for his deep love of music. He played in many bands, including but not limited to: Backwoods Expedition, Crossroads, Sneaky Pete, Wild River, Joe’s Garage, and Rusty and the Greenhorns, among others. His special connection with and love for his bandmate brothers was lifelong and will stand the test of time. He loved music for its capacity for telling great stories, but more than that, its ability to make one feel strong emotions and help others feel them, too. Jerry took great joy in physically expressing himself and creating through numerous musical instruments, including his own beautiful singing voice. His voice gave and continues to give so much to us all.
Jerry was a man who did not shy away from feeling big emotions. He was so comfortable in his vulnerability and sentimentality, and this most often expressed itself in the great tenderness and love he showed his loved ones, especially as a devoted husband and father.
Jerry was known by all as a kind, generous, and compassionate man. He never met a stranger, and he would have given anyone the very shirt off his back if they needed it. He was a giving man. He believed in seeing the best in people and giving them the benefit of the doubt. His laugh was contagious, and he had a smile that he reached all the way to his eyes. He brought joy into every room he entered. Above all, he was loving, and so easy to love.
Jerry did not do anything by halves. When he loved someone or something, he gave it his all and then some. Jerry was a multi-talented jack-of-all-trades, and he loved much of the different work he did in this life. Among other vocations, he was a dedicated entrepreneur and a polysomnographist. He took great pride in providing quality healthcare and tended to his patients with empathy and skill. Without a doubt, his favorite roles were that of husband and father. He was most excited to finally become a grandfather.
Jerry never forgot his gratitude for the mentors and friends that taught him so much and contributed to who he was. We know there is not enough time or words to acknowledge all of those whom he impacted or those who impacted him.
Preceding him in death are his parents, Anna Ruth Bryant and Jimmy Joe Pennington, his grandparents, his beloved mother-in-law, Wilma Waters, sister-in-law Jayne Waters, and niece Amanda Miller.
Jerry is survived by his soulmate and wife Libby Pennington of Stearns, KY, daughter Lauren King and husband, Steven King of Somerset, KY, daughter Lyndsey Pennington of Stearns, KY, and grandson-to-be, due September 2023; his siblings Ruth Ridener of Somerset, KY, Joseph Pennington and wife, Sybil Pennington, of Athens, GA, Gerald Lee Bryant and wife Brenda Bryant, of Marshes Siding, KY, Jennifer Hamlin and husband Shannon Hamlin, of Beulah Heights, KY, Trish Neal and husband, Matthew Neal, of Oneida, TN, Jeanie Pennington of Oneida, TN, and Jackie Pennington and wife, Lisa Pennington, of Oneida, TN. Jerry is survived by countless other loved ones: family members, friends, mentors, bandmate brothers, coworker friends, etc. The list of people Jerry loved and is loved by is exhaustive and too long to list, and is a testament to the way he lived his life.
Hickman-Strunk Funeral Home was honored to serve the family of Jerry Lynn Pennington.
Obituary was composed by family.
Funeral services were held Saturday, June 17, 2023, in the chapel of the Hickman-Strunk Funeral Home with Bro. Braxton King officiating. Burial followed in the Jones-Waters Cemetery in Co-op.
Jerry Lynn Pennington was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on February 21st, 1966 to his parents Anna Ruth Chesnut and Jimmy Joe Pennington. He spent the majority of his childhood between northern Kentucky, where he had fond memories of his family’s farm in Campbell County, and Scott County, Tennessee, where he spent much time with his grandmother, Hazel Hall Pennington. Jerry heard the gospel as a child at a Church of the Nazarene in northern Kentucky, and would later be baptized into the Baptist faith. He attended churches Whitley City First Baptist, Stearns First Baptist, and Resurrection Life Christian Center.
Jerry moved to McCreary County in 1982, where he attended McCreary Central High School. He graduated from MCHS in 1984. His favorite memories from that time included performing with the MCHS Madrigal Singers under the tutelage of Christopher Hubbs, meeting lifelong friends and future bandmates, and unknown to them both at the time, encountering his future wife, Libby Waters.
Jerry was very proud to have been a U.S. Veteran, serving in the National Guard from 1984-1990.
On June 15th, 1991, he married the love of his life, Libby Waters, at Stearns First Baptist Church. Their journey together was one of unconditional, abiding love that began as an eight-year long friendship and developed into 32 years of marriage. On their third wedding anniversary, June 15th, 1994, their first daughter, Lauren Elizabeth Pennington, was born, and Jerry’s life was forever changed as he took on the name “Dad.” Jerry and Libby welcomed their second daughter, Lyndsey Jayne Pennington, on March 31, 1998. Jerry would often remark to his baby girls what miracles he thought they were, and when they were both in their mother’s womb he would often play guitar to soothe them to sleep. They were his pride and his joy. He was an exemplary father and husband - the world’s best.
Jerry was known by many for his deep love of music. He played in many bands, including but not limited to: Backwoods Expedition, Crossroads, Sneaky Pete, Wild River, Joe’s Garage, and Rusty and the Greenhorns, among others. His special connection with and love for his bandmate brothers was lifelong and will stand the test of time. He loved music for its capacity for telling great stories, but more than that, its ability to make one feel strong emotions and help others feel them, too. Jerry took great joy in physically expressing himself and creating through numerous musical instruments, including his own beautiful singing voice. His voice gave and continues to give so much to us all.
Jerry was a man who did not shy away from feeling big emotions. He was so comfortable in his vulnerability and sentimentality, and this most often expressed itself in the great tenderness and love he showed his loved ones, especially as a devoted husband and father.
Jerry was known by all as a kind, generous, and compassionate man. He never met a stranger, and he would have given anyone the very shirt off his back if they needed it. He was a giving man. He believed in seeing the best in people and giving them the benefit of the doubt. His laugh was contagious, and he had a smile that he reached all the way to his eyes. He brought joy into every room he entered. Above all, he was loving, and so easy to love.
Jerry did not do anything by halves. When he loved someone or something, he gave it his all and then some. Jerry was a multi-talented jack-of-all-trades, and he loved much of the different work he did in this life. Among other vocations, he was a dedicated entrepreneur and a polysomnographist. He took great pride in providing quality healthcare and tended to his patients with empathy and skill. Without a doubt, his favorite roles were that of husband and father. He was most excited to finally become a grandfather.
Jerry never forgot his gratitude for the mentors and friends that taught him so much and contributed to who he was. We know there is not enough time or words to acknowledge all of those whom he impacted or those who impacted him.
Preceding him in death are his parents, Anna Ruth Bryant and Jimmy Joe Pennington, his grandparents, his beloved mother-in-law, Wilma Waters, sister-in-law Jayne Waters, and niece Amanda Miller.
Jerry is survived by his soulmate and wife Libby Pennington of Stearns, KY, daughter Lauren King and husband, Steven King of Somerset, KY, daughter Lyndsey Pennington of Stearns, KY, and grandson-to-be, due September 2023; his siblings Ruth Ridener of Somerset, KY, Joseph Pennington and wife, Sybil Pennington, of Athens, GA, Gerald Lee Bryant and wife Brenda Bryant, of Marshes Siding, KY, Jennifer Hamlin and husband Shannon Hamlin, of Beulah Heights, KY, Trish Neal and husband, Matthew Neal, of Oneida, TN, Jeanie Pennington of Oneida, TN, and Jackie Pennington and wife, Lisa Pennington, of Oneida, TN. Jerry is survived by countless other loved ones: family members, friends, mentors, bandmate brothers, coworker friends, etc. The list of people Jerry loved and is loved by is exhaustive and too long to list, and is a testament to the way he lived his life.
Hickman-Strunk Funeral Home was honored to serve the family of Jerry Lynn Pennington.
Obituary was composed by family.