Gerald Eugene "Jerry" Tuttle

Gerald Eugene “Jerry” Tuttle passed away on Monday, September 21, 2026, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Oxford, Mississippi.

Jerry was born on August 20, 1939, in Batesville, Mississippi, to William and Callie Tuttle. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Jim Tuttle, of Byhalia, Mississippi. 

Jerry entered the United States Air Force in 1958 and served honorably for 20 years. While stationed near San Antonio, Texas, he and Sonya eloped on October 2, 1959. Together, they built a life filled with love, hard work, adventure, and family. They raised three sons and a daughter: Dennis (Janice), Darrel, David (Wanda), and Darcie.

His Air Force service took the family to bases across the United States and overseas, including assignments at Lackland, Eglin, Hurlburt, and Homestead Air Force Bases, as well as tours in Okinawa and Japan. Along the way, Jerry made time for family adventures. Some of their fondest memories were camping in the Florida Keys and traveling by truck camper to Mexico to visit Sonya’s family.

In 1975, Jerry and Sonya volunteered to help two Vietnamese families begin new lives in America. Jerry helped secure mobile homes for them, enroll their children in school, and find jobs for the adults. His willingness to help others was one of the many ways he showed his care for people.

After retiring from the Air Force, Jerry settled in Mary Esther, Florida, and started Playground Repair and Renovation, a mobile home repair business whose name sometimes led people to think he repaired playgrounds. Later, hoping to spend more time fishing, he moved to Port St. Joe. At a friend’s suggestion, he completed a marine safety course, became a captain, and began a fishing charter service. He especially enjoyed helping children catch their first fish, offering the patience and encouragement they needed.

Eventually, hurricanes along the Gulf Coast led Jerry and Sonya back to Mississippi. They made a home in Como and spent time near Sardis Lake in Harmontown. In time, a wooded property outside Holly Springs became their beloved home, known as "The Retreat". Shared with close family friends Tony (Shelly) Wasden and Mark (Bette) Duke, The Retreat was a special place for family, friendship, and hunting. Jerry loved caring for the land and could often be found working on the property with one of his many tractors.

Jerry and Sonya attended the Holly Springs Church of Christ, where they made dear friends. Above all, Jerry loved his family and the people who shared his life. He and Sonya spent nearly 67 years together and were blessed with nine grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. He will be remembered for his adventurous spirit, his capable hands, his generosity, and the love he gave so freely to family and friends.

A private service for the family will be held on Tuesday, September 29, at West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery, with the support of Wells Funeral Home. The family will hold a celebration of Jerry’s life at their church home, the Holly Springs Church of Christ, on November 29. The family will share more details as the date approaches.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a gift to a charity of your choice to help others, just as Jerry would have.