Gerald C. Bayliss, Jr.
1952-2016
Gerald “Jerry” Cread Bayliss, 63 passed away Saturday August 27th, 2016 in Oklahoma City, OK. A celebration of life services will be held at 6:00 P.M. Thursday September 1st at Matthews Funeral Home, 601 N. Kelly Avenue, Edmond, OK. He was born September 24th, 1952 in Shawnee, OK to Gerald Cread Bayliss and Mamie Fussell Bayliss. He graduated from Tecumseh High school in 1970. He was an eagle scout. He attended Oklahoma University and received a bachelor’s degree from Southern Nazarene University. He also had obtained an MBA from SNU and another Masters Degree in Communications from Oklahoma City University.
He married Jackie Wellmaker August 28th, 1981 in Oklahoma City. Jerry was employed by Southwestern Bell/AT&T for 40 years in a variety of management positions including the last several years as Director of Governmental/External Affairs covering many different communities across the state. Jerry was involved in a multitude of organizations including: Ambucs Lawton, Chairman of the Shawnee Economic Development Board, State Chamber, Leadership Oklahoma, Cannon Cocker, Rotary Club and was very proud of his involvement with the Spears School of Business at Oklahoma State University. Jerry cherished his time with family and friends especially bare foot water skiing at Lake Eufala. He was a very proud husband, father and “Pipop”.
Jerry is survived by wife, Jackie Bayliss of Edmond; his sons Steven Cread and fiancée Lauren Thompson of Oklahoma City, Chanz Corbin and Jackson Carter and fiancée Amanda De Luna of Edmond; his grandchildren Hope Rhoads, Maverick Rhoads and Lake Monroe Bayliss of Oklahoma City; his sister Madeline G. “Trudy” Dahlem and John Dahlem of Shawnee; his nieces Kim Gillert of Tulsa, Dawn Chester of Tecumseh and brother in law Gerald Farris. He is preceded in death by his parents and a brother Steven Russell Bayliss.
Always in our hearts and prayers. Miss you.,
I work for the Ponca City Chamber of Commerce. I became friends with Jerry while he would visit our community and attend some of our events. Jerry was always fun to be around. I really liked how kind he was and how he treated people. When he shared his health issues with me I started praying for him. Jerry was very proud of his family and talked about all of you all the time. Please know I will continue to pray for all of you. Jerry will be missed by many! He touched the lives of a lot of people including me. Rich Cantillon
Jerry was one of my favorite bosses back in the day at SWBT Business office. Jackie, our thoughts and prayers are with you & your family during this difficult time.
I grew up with Jerry in Tecumseh. We were in Scouts together and went to school and graduated together in 1970. We played football, baseball and basketball together. I knew his siblings and parents. He came from a great family and his foundation was solid. I knew him very well and we were good friends growing up. I have never met a kinder, gentler, more caring person than Jerry. I don’t think he ever had an enemy growing up. It is with a heavy heart that I pray for his family in these trying times. Heaven’s population has just increased.
I am so sorry for your loss.
Jerry and Steve were special friends or our family. We went on ski trips to Colorado with the Tecumseh Ski Club and my most favorite memories were at Lake Eufaula where on many weekends we would encounter Jerry and Steve. Great guys, great water skiers and an absolute hoot to be around and hear their stories, we would laugh until we cried. One of my favorites was of them learning to bare-foot water ski. In describing the first time they stepped of their slolam with their second foot, they were convenienced that their heels hit them in the back of their heads. No one could tag team a story like those two, it was like two people but only one thought process.
Our thought and prayers are with Jerry’s family and love ones.
I met Jerry some time ago when we had a family trip to Lake Tahoe, CA. I could tell that Jackie had married her soul mate Jerry was kind, funny and fit right in to this nutty Wellmaker family which by the way is not an easy task to handle. Jackie you and your family are in my prayers! I love you!