Jerry Don Mallory, 67, of Nederland, TX passed away peacefully May 21, 2007 at his residence surrounded by his loving family. Born in New London, TX on November 24, 1939, his family settled in Baytown, TX where he excelled in football and was voted class favorite at Robert E. Lee High School. He received a scholarship to play football at Delmar Junior College in Corpus Christi, TX. While attending Delmar, his team advanced to the Junior Rose Bowl National Championship game in Pasadena, CA and the Industrial Bowl in Longview, TX. He continued his football career at Lamar State College of Technology, now Lamar University, in Beaumont, TX. An injury cut short his football career, but began his career in coaching as he assisted the football team in his final year. After graduation in 1962, he accepted a coaching position at Wharton High School for one year. He received a call from the head football coach at Nederland High School the following year and joined the staff at C.O. Wilson Junior High School. He moved to Central Junior High School as the head football coach and then transferred to Nederland High School. In his years at the high school, he was head coach for track and field, offensive line coach for football, and taught drivers education, marketing, and physical education. After twenty-five years of coaching, he turned in his whistle to teach physical education at Highland Park Elementary while he earned his administrative degree. He later returned to Nederland High School as an administrator serving as an assistant principal and interim principal. He completed forty-five years in education with forty-four of them in the Nederland Independent School District. Throughout his many years in education, he received numerous honors and awards he humbly accepted. However, to him, the greatest honor was being able to impact the lives of thousands of students by teaching and coaching not just from books or lesson plans, but from his heart.
He was preceded in death by his parents William Clark and Mary Jane Mallory, a nephew Wade Fulton, and his granddaughter Ashlyn Ann Raborn.
He is survived by his wife Sheron Mallory of Nederland; his daughter Shera Raborn and husband Brent of Nederland; his two sons, Jake Mallory of Nederland and Jared Mallory and wife Lia of Miami, FL; his granddaughter Mallory Raborn of Nederland; his sister Carolyn Fulton and husband William of Garden Ridge, TX; his two brothers, James L. Mallory and wife Jeanette of Lindale, TX and Sidney Mallory and wife Bitsy of Austin, TX; his mother and father-in-law Gloria and Kenneth Stark, Sr. of Beauxart Gardens; his brothers-in-law, Kenneth Stark, Jr. and wife Linda of Katy, TX, Phillip Stark of Conroe, TX, Wayne Stark of Nederland, Brent Stark and wife Dana of Nederland; his sisters-in-law, Renee Lahaye and husband Paul of Beauxart Gardens, TX, Charlotte Sherman and husband Donald of Nederland; numerous nieces and nephews; and General Schwartz, his loyal dog.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Odyssey Health Care and his nurses, Melinda Rivers and Courtney Guillory, for the comfort, compassion, and special quality of care.
The family would also like to thank the entire N.I.S.D. staff, students, and administrators, friends of the family and members of the surrounding community for the many prayers and support over the past several years. It has been an honor and privilege to share a husband, a father, grandfather, and a brother with the city of Nederland over the past four decades. He was a humble man of few words, but those few words educated, motivated, and inspired generations. We ask that you honor his life by remembering those life lessons and share them with others. He would tell you life is not meant to be easy and can only truly be lived if you “Adjust and Overcome”.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be 3:00 PM, Thursday, May 24, 2007 at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Nederland with Reverend Dan Malain and Reverend Shane Baxter officiating. Interment will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery under the direction of Broussard’s Mortuary in Nederland. A gathering of family and friends will be held, Wednesday, May 23, 2007 from 5:00-8:00 PM at the Nederland High School Gymnasium with a Rosary to be recited at 6:00 PM.
Memorial donations can be made to the American Cancer Society, the Bulldog Booster Club, St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, or a charitable organization of your choice.
