Jerry Lynn Tkac

Jerry Lynn Tkac, 81, beloved Wife, Mother & Nanny, passed away peacefully at her home in Texas City, Texas on December 23, 2023.

Jerry Lynn was born in Winona, Minnesota on November 13, 1942, to parents, Newell and Ruby Black. She would join her older sister, Jo Ellen, and later younger brothers, Dennis and Mike. When she was a child, her family relocated to Texas City, Texas where she grew up. She developed lifelong friendships during these years and graduated from Texas City High School in 1962.

It was in 1965 that she met and married her beloved husband, Jerry Lynn, who by coincidence shared the same name as her. The two became known as Jerry Lynn Boy and Jerry Lynn Girl or the Jerry Lynns. They would go on to have two children, daughter, Cheryl and son, Jay, as well as four grandchildren, Cody, Garrett, Christopher, and Gabe. Jerry Lynn is best known for her role as Nanny to the grandboys and this was the most significant achievement and the most fulfilling part of her life. She was involved in all the boys' lives and felt the happiest when she was with them. She enjoyed the summer trips to the Sombrerito Ranch in Laredo, Texas with her family during which so many unforgettable memories were made. As office manager for the family-owned business, The Shooter’s Corner, she was also well known to the community and the daily interaction with customers was enjoyable for her, as she never met a stranger.

Besides spending time with her family, Jerry Lynn loved to spend time shopping, traveling, and gambling. She was always up for an adventure. She loved her trips to Las Vegas and Louisiana where she would find her “lucky” slot machine and sit at it for hours. Her most recent trips were to Memphis and New York, where she spent time seeing all the places she had wanted to visit. Also, she enjoyed weekly shopping trips with her family and friends, especially around Christmas time, which was her favorite time of the year. She would seek out special trinkets to give as gifts. She never missed the opportunity to send a card, whether it was to wish someone a happy birthday, convey her sympathies, send a get-well wish, or just because she wanted to. Her special cards have been received by hundreds of people over the years. Many of the envelopes were decorated with stickers as a way of personalizing them. Throughout her life, she was exceptionally caring and thoughtful.

In addition to her parents, Jerry Lynn is preceded in death by her sister, Jo Ellen Fincher; brother, Dennis Black; sisters-in-law, Janice Young and Janette Gooden, and nephews, Wayne Young and Eddie Fincher. She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Jerry Lynn; brother, Mike Black (Linda); daughter, Cheryl Hunter; son, Jerry Lynn (Jay) Tkac, Jr. (Rafaelle); grandsons, Cody Tkac, Garrett Hunter, Christopher Tkac and Gabe Tkac; son-in-law, Louis Hunter, nieces Deanna Sullivan, Brenda (Ted) Ginsberg, and Kelly (Paul) Musick; nephews, Jeff Gooden (Janine), Devin Black, Cory Black, Alex Black and Jesse Black. In addition, there were many great-nieces and nephews who knew her as Aunt Jerry. Special extended family Pam Nicolini and Wesley Burns.

Visitation will be on Thursday, January 4, 2024, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., at Emken-Linton Funeral Home in Texas City, Texas. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m., Friday, January 5, 2024, at Emken-Linton Funeral Home with Pastor Rusty Martin of Island Church officiating. Interment will follow at Galveston County Memorial Park Cemetery in Hitchcock, Texas.

Pallbearers will be Cody Tkac, Garrett Hunter, Christopher Tkac, Gabe Tkac, Louis Hunter and Wesley Burns.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Gwyn Richardson, Dr. Lee Grumbles and home health nurse, Mandie Hamilton.

Though she is gone, the memories she made will live on in the hearts and minds of her family and friends. We will miss her dearly.