Gerald Joseph “Jerry” Hatcher, 64, of Chesterfield , formerly of Mexico , died on May 5, 2005, at Surrey Place Skilled Nursing Care in Chesterfield.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, May 9, at Pickering Funeral Home with David Hatcher and Ben Alexander officiating. Visitation will be Monday from noon until service time at the funeral home. Burial will be in East Lawn Memorial Park .

Mr. Hatcher was born October 16, 1940, in Mexico , a son of John Henry and Mary Christina Helming Hatcher. On April 24, 1960, at the First Baptist Church in Mexico , he married Bonnie Kathleen Wenger, who survives at the home.

In addition to his wife, survivors include a daughter, Bernita Lea (Hatcher) Roussin, Wright City ; a son, Anthony Wayne Hatcher, Ballwin; one grandson, Nathan Tyler Roussin, St. Louis ; and mother-in-law, Katherine Wenger Owings, Mexico .

His parents and a brother, John William Hatcher preceded him in death.

Jerry graduated from Mexico High School with the Class of 1958. He went to the College of Office Automation in Des Moines , Iowa , and then moved to St. Louis in 1960. He never forgot Mexico and went home frequently throughout the years. He was always very proud to be from Mexico and never missed a High School Class Reunion.

He worked in Data Processing at Monsanto, Brown Shoe Company, and General Electric Lamp Division in St. Louis , and Midwest Footwear in Sullivan. He attended night school at Washington University (Business and Law), which was equal to two years of college. In 1969, he became a salesman for Ditch Witch Trenchers in Sullivan. In 1971 he opened Ill-Mo Bobcat in Times Beach , Missouri .

In 1974 Jerry moved his family from Sullivan to Chesterfield as his primary residence. He also had a home at Lake of the Ozarks , where he enjoyed boating and fishing with family and friends for 30 years.

In 1980-82 there was a flood in Times Beach , and then the dioxin problem, that led him to sell the business and end his career with Ill-Mo Bobcat. Retiring briefly, Jerry decided in 1989 to start working for himself, and along with his son Anthony, operated a Bobcat Excavating Company.

Jerry had several interests. He decided to become a part-time clown named “Big Tiny,” with the St. Louis Clown Association for a brief period. Jerry also enjoyed studying the Civil War and researching his family genealogy. Recently Jerry also enjoyed day trading on the stock market.

Jerry loved visiting with people; he loved meeting with all his friends for breakfast. Whether he had friends since high school or just met them last week, he never met a stranger; he was always walking up to someone with something to say.

Rest in Peace, Jerry; you enjoyed a wonderful life. You touched so many with your friendship and kindness, and you will be dearly missed.

Memorial gifts may be made to the AMC Cancer Control Center or to an educational fund for Mr. Hatcher’s grandson, Nathan Roussin and may be sent in care of Pickering Funeral Home, 403 N. Western, Mexico, MO 65265.. 

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