Jonathan Mann, a songwriter who has written a new song a day since 2009, posted on a cancer care support forum that he was starting a program called "Medicine Music," whereby he would write a song for a loved one who was ill. I contacted him and sent him some information about Jerry and this is the song he wrote. It is also listed in the Gallery, under "Audio." 
 
When I first played this for Jerry, I videotaped him listening to it. That was on July 27. He shed some tears as he heard it, and at the end, said, "Wow. That was fabulous!" He told me he'd never thought anyone would ever write a song about him. He was so incredibly touched and told me it was the best gift anyone had ever given him. 
 
I won't share that video here because it is much too personal, but here is a link to the song that Jonathan Mann put up on youtube. I hope you enjoy it as much as Jerry did.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1HD-ncm19A
 
--Melanie 

Jerry was born in DuQuoin, Illinois on May 23, 1947. He was the only child of Gerald and Arline Coffel Finney. He graduated from Southern Illinois University- Carbondale in 1969 with a BA in Government, and from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1973. He practiced law in Illinois, serving in both the State’s Attorney’s Office and as Macon County Public Defender, where he served longer than any other person in the history of the county. Later, after moving to Indiana following his marriage to Melanie in 2002, he worked in automobile sales.

He is survived by his wife, Melanie (Kellow) Finney, four sons, Michael, Daniel, John, and Stephen, stepsons, Patrick and Brennan (Stephanie Zimmer) Barnes, and grandsons, Noah and Liam Barnes. 

After retirement, Jerry became a scholar of Irish history and studied the Irish language. He was a member of the Kevin Barry Chapter of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. He was a member of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Greencastle. He was also an accomplished carpenter, a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan, a trivia master, and a lover of animals. He had an extraordinary memory, a quick wit, and was an excellent cook. But most importantly, he was a devoted husband and a loving father and grandfather.

Jerry was diagnosed with Adenocarcinoma of the Pancreas, Stage IV in late October 2012. He waged a mighty effort with the same grace, dignity, and stubborness that he brought to all of his endeavors. He will be greatly missed. 

Memorials in Jerry’s name may be made to the
Putnam County Humane Society
P.O. Box 444, Greencastle, IN 46135 or the
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 
http://www.pancan.org/section_donate/donate_now.php#.