Jerry Reed Ham

ROCKWALL — Jerry Reed Ham passed away Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015 at the age of 78.
Graveside service: 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 9, 2015 in Moore Memorial Gardens, Arlington.
Jerry Reed Ham was born April 29, 1937, in St. Elizabeth Hospital, in Hannibal, Missouri, to the late Hilda and Roy Ham. Jerry attended Hannibal Public Schools, Mark Twain Elementary School, Central Junior High School, and Hannibal High School where he was very active in football and basketball.
In 1956, he married Sonia See, with whom he had his only daughter, Darla. He enlisted in the US Army on Oct. 16, 1956. He was sent to Fort Bragg, NC, where he was a member of the 82nd Airborne Division. While at Fort Bragg, he earned his parachutist badge and certificates of achievement. Although he envisioned a career in the US Army, when he broke his back in a car accident, his career as a parachutist was ended.
After serving four years in the US Army, Ham returned to Hannibal to begin his 27 year career in the graphic arts industry, both in production and in sales. During his lengthy career, Ham began work as a journeyman in the trade but then quickly moved to supervisory and administrative roles in the industry. His employment included Western Publishing, Hannibal, MO; Universal Display Corporation, St. Louis, MO; and Drug Package, Inc., St. Louis, MO. He also owned his own printing business in Quincy, IL for four years before moving to Rockwall.
In 1992, Ham married Patricia Reeder Mengwasser and her family. He added so much to the family with his sense of humor, his intelligence, his wide interests, and his love for them.
Survivors: Ham leaves behind his wife of 22 years, Patricia Mengwasser Ham of Rockwall; daughter, Darla Gerner and husband, Rob of Apple Valley, CA; grandson, Jesse Gerner and wife, Jade, and their daughter Mila; also surviving are his only sister, Carol Glascock and husband, Bill; niece, Diana Spalding and husband, Jim; nephew, Keith Glascock and wife, Kim, and their children and grandchildren; he also leaves behind his second family; stepson, Brad Mengwasser and wife, Doreen, and their three children, Berkeley, Madden, and Reeder; as well as stepdaughter, Laura Dumas and husband, Steve, and their two children, Zane and Rex.

BROWN, OWENS & BRUMLEY
Family Funeral Home & Crematory
425 S. Henderson, 817-335-4557