I remember jere back in the school year 1959/60 at Union College, I was taking an electronics class and he was our teacher for some of it.  He would "un-fix" old radios and then have us try to figure out what was wrong with them as part of our learning experience.  One I had to try to fix, he had drilled a hole in a capacitor and when we turned it on to see what was wrong with the radio , the capacitor exploded like a firecracker.

Fun times we had.

Gary Eitel

On Friday, November 14, 2014, Mother and I attended the 1PM memorial service on the campus of GRU in Augusta, Georgia, in honor of Dad and 133 other body donors for their medical education programs. Musical selections were interspersed with readings* and remarks by staff and students. We were especially blessed to hear from the students, who regarded these donors as their first patients. They expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to study these bodies so they could acquire the knowledge to help future patients throughout their careers. Students from several disciplines had benefited: future physicians, physician assistants, nurse anesthetists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, dentists, and medical illustrators. The program included a reading of the donors’ names, a consecration of the cremains by the chaplain, and ended with a bagpipe rendition of “Amazing Grace.” It was all very meaningful and made us realize that these students considered body donations to be the ultimate gift. We came away feeling that Dad’s choice was a high form of stewardship.

Afterward, we walked to the campus memorial garden where, under the shelter of a white awning, a stone engraved “2014” marked an open grave containing the individually boxed remains of the 53 donors whose families chose to have them buried there, including Dad’s. The hedged garden was small, but impeccably kept with a vine covered entry arch, a caduceus sculpture surrounded by a raised flower bed of pansies, wooden benches, and—under a big magnolia tree—a plaque reading, “In memory of those who generously gave their bodies to help future generations through medical research and education.”  As we lingered, the platform bouquets from the memorial service were placed around the grave, and we had the opportunity to express our thanks in person to David Adams and Nan Eaton who had been so helpful when we called GRU with questions. We remained to see the grave filled and the grass replaced. We had a good sense of closure knowing where, and how respectfully, Dad was buried.

…………………………….

*The following touching poem was included and seemed to encapsulate the message of the service.
 

“Anatomy Teacher”
 

When I touched your hands,

I touched hands that had felt

The chill of 94 winters,

Fingers that had stretched in the sunlight

Of as many springs.

When I touched your feet,

I touched feet that had walked

The paths of nine decades,

Toes curling and uncurling through

The uncertainty of five wars.

When I touched your arms,

I touched the arms that had

Braced you from and embraced the world,

A world I know only through

Historians and faded photographs.

When I stared into the shell of your eyes,

I saw the screen upon which

A million irreplaceable scenes had been played,

Visions of a world rapidly changing,

At once both like and unlike my own.

When I held your heart in my hands,

In a moment filled with awe and grace,

I held a heart whose mysteries I will never know,

A heart that gave me the gift of itself.

When you invited me to know you,

To be a guest in the house that

Your spirit left,

To touch your body more intimately

Than any lover could, you forever altered my life.

My feet, with the knowledge of yours,

Will walk into the future

Carrying you with me.

My hands, as they reach out to comfort and heal,

Will do so never forgetting the

Delicacy of yours.

My eyes, as they sweep across the

Landscapes of my future,

Will find in it reflections of

The world I saw as yours.

My heart, in the rhythm of its beating,

Will carry with it

The stillness and wonder of your heart,

Lying silent in my hands.

by Amy Marie Millikan

Dear Marilyn,
     I had wanted to say how Jere had impressed me through the years at Uchee Pines as a real Christian, not on the shirtsleeve but shining from within, seen in his concern for others, how he talked with us, and more than anything in how he prayed. Like most of us at Uchee I think he shared the interest in living simply in the countryside---at least I took it that way when he described in some detail to me how to set up a woodstove with water pipes running through the firebox and connected with a water tank well above to give gravity pressure for water flow. He explained how it would function spontaneously without need of pumping the hot water up to the tank. Of course he was always tops at technology as well as practicality. It was a privilege to know him.
     May you be drenched with a rainfall of God's blessings.   All the best from this Horsley Family

Today is Jere's birthday. A year ago we celebrated his 75th birthday by having friends home for dinner. Tony and Mary Brown came because his birthday was yesterday. Tomorrow is my brother and sister-in-law's anniversary so Ernest and Freda came. And Jere's sister Barbara and husband Ivan Hansen came. It was a very happy day. We could not forsee any trouble in the future. 

We had no idea that 4 days later a chest x-ray would show a shadow on one lung. Six days later he had a CT scan of the lungs. Ten days later a doctor showed us the spot on the scan that he assumed was cancer. On Friday Sept. 7 a biopsy confirmed lung cancer with a tumor nearly the size of a small orange, the doctor said. And later an MRI of the brain showed 2 spots of cancer in his brain. He was not given any hope of a cure.

I never could have imagined that less than 7 months later, on March 3, 2012 Jere, my strong and healthy husband, the fix it man and constant helper in my life, would breath his last breath and I would be a widow. What a terrible word.

For nearly 53 years Jere had been my best friend, helper, lover, and faithful Christian mate. We went and did everything together. Actually he had been my friend since June of 1957, when we began dating, nearly 56 years before. I had never been alone. 

God was gracious to give me the most faithful Christian husband anyone could ever have . I will thank Him forever and look forward with longing desire to meet Jere when Jesus comes in the clowds of heaven to take His children home. My constant prayer is "Come quickly Lord Jesus, and may I be faithful and ready to spend eternity with Jesus and Jere. May all of our loved ones and those we shared God's word with be there, too.

Marilyn Stearman
 

On this first Father’s Day without my Dad, I’m remembering what a unique and special father he was to me.

He invested himself in seeing that we grew up to be adults with a knowledge of God, a love of His creation (Dad called nature “God’s second book”), and the integrity, intelligence, and skills we’d need for time and eternity.

Dad cared about all people, probably the “underdogs” most of all. He went out of his way to show friendship and acceptance to those he perceived might feel excluded or looked down upon by others—whether for their race, their social standing, or whatever.

Often he showed his care by helping fix something. Many a time I remember us pulling over to help stranded motorists. Dad would get out his tools and usually managed to get their car back on the road. Sometimes these people would tell us they’d been there hours with cars whizzing by before Dad stopped to help.

There are little things he did at home, too, that created family memories. One that came to mind this weekend was the orange “slushies” he sometimes made in the blender after we’d been working outside in hot weather—they were always a treat.

In the 15 weeks since his death, I’ve gotten to know Dad in a new way through the tributes and memories that have been shared. I’ve learned more about some of the characteristics we had in common, too. I hope my life will be a credit to his memory, and look forward to an eternity spent together in a perfect earth made new.

(This is the life sketch I shared at the Memorial Service for our friend Jere)

“The Friendly guy who could fix anything.”

Known as the “Friendly Guy who could fix anything”, Jere Kent Stearman, was born on Aug. 25, 1937 in Kingman, Kansas where he along with his two younger sisters (Barbara and Patricia) and three younger brothers (David, Michael, Greg) grew up. It was at this young age Jere could be found developing this interest in working with his hands as he loved to take things, like a clock, apart and put them back together. It was in also in Kansas that he met the love of his life Marilyn and for 53 years they walked through life as a married couple. Jere and Marilyn had 2 children, a daughter, Kathy now living in Fort Myers, FL and Kent, now living in Korea, and watching this via the web today.

Marilyn, when remembering just a few of the many special memories of her time with Jere, shared with me one specific date that Jere took here on before they were married. Ladies I am not sure how romantic you may think this may have been but Marilyn says that Jere was enamored as they spent this date in a control tower at a local airport! Jere knew planes, and Marilyn shares how he could hear a plane flying overhead and know exactly which one that was. Evidently this date worked as there were more to follow J

Jere, the friendly guy who could fix anything, loved to use his hands. Some phrases that kept coming up over and over as I had the privilege to talk with Marilyn and Kathy were Jere was an inventor at heart, he had an inquiring mind. While attending Enterprise Academy Jere worked downtown at a Radio-Tv repair shop, and when he went to college they asked him to teach the Radio Physics lab, a class in which he never took!

Jere’s love for using his hands took him into a 27 year career with IBM where he helped design and develop the first ink jet printer for office use! In fact it was such a secret that Marilyn never really knew until later why his white shirts kept coming home with black “ink” spots on them!

After IBM the Stearman’s moved to Uchee Pines where they served for 14 years before moving here to Calhoun, Ga where Jere worked for the Georgia-Cumberland Conference for 5 years and still filled in as recently as last October.

Jere, the friendly guy who could fix anything, felt his greatest accomplishment was a 4 bedroom house he built, with the help of Kent and Marilyn. Jere never met something he would not try to fix! What he did have he took care of: each Friday he could be found outside checking all the fluids in his cars getting ready for the Sabbath.

Jere, the friendly who could fix anything, had another love of his life and that was his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Kent says this about his dad, “

“As a Christian man, he took his responsibility as the priest of the family very seriously. He and Mother had family worship every morning and evening as sure as the sun rose and set. While the whole family was involved, he certainly was the leader. He was constant in prayer, both public and private. It was not uncommon for someone to ask if he were a pastor, because he was so often” sharing Jesus with others, “and praying with people.”

I remember the first Soup and Study I attended here at Calhoun. I came away from that thinking to myself about Jere, “that man knew his Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy..”

Jere served the Seventh-day Adventist church in many capacities: He was a Head Elder, Elder, Deacon, church planter and even church builder – in Georgetown, TX and most of all he was a friendly man we came to love!

Many memories have streamed in about Jere: here are just a few:

Victoria Ryan says of this couple “They were an example of pure Christian living, unadulterated by the world.

Becky Campbell shares this “Jere’s “life and character reflected Jesus.

Violet Cruz writes “His character trait that stands out in my mind is his friendliness.”

On Sept 7, 2012, Jere Stearman, “The friendly guy who could fix anything” finally met his match when the news came back that he had lung cancer. Jere realized that this was something he could not fix, but in the midst of the pain the weakness Jere continued to be that friendly guy we had come to know and love. I often wondered after visiting him how he could be so friendly, despite what was going on and I came to this conclusion; while Jere had come face to face with something he could not fix he was best friends with the One who can fix anything and in Jesus Christ he placed his trust.

I visited Jere a week before he passed and as I sat there beside his bedside: he tried to sit up and share with me how much he loved Marilyn and hated to see how worn out she was in caring for him, he shared with me what great kids they had in Kathy and Kent, but then he stopped, took a few breaths, quit trying to sit up and laid down on his pillow, and a peace came over his face as he started to talk about Heaven!

Heaven a place where Jere, the friendly guy who could fix anything, will get to build his own house yet again. Heaven, where I imagine Jere being on the front row as Jesus explains the way the earth was created or one of his favorite subjects – astronomy. It is here in Heaven that I know Jere will be looking for each of you.

Today we remember a man who was our friend, who was a loving husband, who was a supportive dad, but most importantly Jere was a friend of God!

Treasure the memories you have of Jere and remember God has promised that there will be a day when God himself “will wipe away every tear from our eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things will have passed away.

It is on that day we will once again meet Jere “The friendly guy who could fix anything.”

Being Jere's little brother, by sixteen years, I don't have many recollections of his younger years. The earliest years I recall would be his late teen and early twenties and usually involved some techy thing. Like sharing in a truly shocking experience with a hand crank generator or watching a pharmaceutical film on a miniature reel to reel film viewer in a brief case. There were times like watching gas powered, kick started washing machine motors hopping up and down on the garage floor. He also tried his hand levitation with home built hovercraft powered by madel airplane engines--some made from boxes and a more elaborate one made with formed sheet metal. Then there were the giant soap bubbles blown up on his dinning room table and the "rocket" that he built, using home chemisty, that failed as a rocket but folded the 1/2" x 4" pipe back on itself (we all were safely out of range). He seemed to always have something interesting going on.

My fondest memories of him and his family began in my teen years when, in 1970, he asked me to come spend the summer with him and his family in Lexington, Kentucky. Spending that summer in their home helped reorient my life in the right direction.

My family always looked forward to spending time with him and his family. We enjoyed the trip in the canoe down the creek in Austin and his old John Deer. These times have always been a blessing--spiritually, mentally, and phisically.

Jere loved to talk about Jesus, His love, and His Word. I will miss Jere deeply but I don't believe it will be for long. His rest will seem to be but a moment until he hears the voice of Jesus awakening him.

Marilyn, Kathy and David, and Kent you will always be precious to us and you are in our prayers.

Jere will be remembered for many gifts he gave away without effort, without knowledge, without boasting of the beautiful person God made.  I do not remember ever seeing him without that big, bright smile.  He was a constant in the Moss Creek neighborhood, as well as Marilyn, walking daily, giving out spiritual material, stopping to have a conversation, or just to wave a hello. You seldom saw one, without the other.  Many of us consider them family.    

There are two memories I will always cherish about Jere.  I was at their home and we were having a conversation about Jesus, when Jere, moved by his love for Jesus, started to cry.  His love was so passionate, so dear; it is unusual to witness such adoring love.   It causes me to weep as I remember.  I will cherish that memory of a treasured love. 

The other memory is about my dog, Precious.  When Precious first came to live with me, scared and frightened, she would start running, not to be caught!    Once, she ran to Jere’s yard, and when he picked her up, she placed her head against his chest.  Jere walked her all the way home holding her like a baby.  They became fast friends.  I have heard many, other stories of his love for animals. 

When the three of us, plus my 2 dogs would walk 2-3 times a week at 6:15 a.m., dodging cars and school buses, we had some interesting discussions. During those walks, he often held Marilyn’s hand, and flashlight in the other.  I miss those walks.  

He leaves behind a wonderful wife, whom I love dearly, a kind daughter and son that I have come to know during Jere’s preparation to go home.  I am sure he’ll still be wearing that beautiful smile when he walks into the arms of Jesus.

Peace be with you Marilyn, Kathy, and Kent.   
  

Marilyn, I am so sorry to hear of Jere passing.  As you know I met Jere while attending Enterprise Academy as you were my room mate.  He was a Senior and I was a Junior.  We dated most of my Junior year and part of my Senior year.  After he graduated he left for college in Nebraska.  We lost track of each other for many years.  I was so happy when you two were at the last school reunion I attended.  It was wonderful to know that the two of you were married and had children.  Jere was a  christian man with so much faith.  We will all meet him again in heaven. Marilyn you have my deepest sympathy and I will be praying for you. If you need anything or just to talk, email me.

My love to you and your family.

Brenda Hurrelbrink 

Being a sister of Marilyn I had gotten to know Jere well. His character trait that stands out in my mind is his friendliness. He made friends with nearly everyone he met. I think of the first time I visited he and Marilyn in their home in Calhoun. We went for walks together in their neighborhood. He stopped and talked to everyone who happened to be outside. It seems he knew everyone in the area and that seems unusual in this day and age.


When I told my brother-in-law about his death, he said, I liked Jere. We became good friends. He will be missed by his many friends and family. We look forward to meeting him again soon in that glorious home coming day that we all pray will be soon.  

Marilyn and family, we have lost sight of your where about and we are so sorry to hear of Jere's passing but we know the love he had with the Lord and we will see him again when Jesus comes.  We remember the work you did in Austin First SDA Church in Austin, TX and also when you both were instrumental in starting the Georgetown SDA Church in Georgetown, TX.  Are prayers are with Marilyn, Kent and Kathy and family.  Blessings to you all.   Donna and John Tonn  

My first memory of Jere is when I went to Junior Camp.  Jere is the only person I remember being friends with.  It seems we "hit it off" real well.  We each had a little Browny camera, and we took a picture of each other at the same time.  I had a picture, for many years, of him taking a picture of me!  I wish I knew what happened to it.  We were good friends at Enterprise Academy, and when we got to college we roomed together in the boys dorm.  I remember, once, we got a can of grape juice in one of our meals at the cafeteria.  We took it to the room and punched two tiny holes in the seam  and sucked the juice out and forced water in it and soldered the holes shut and placed the can in the dorm hallway.  The next school paper had a little article telling about someone finding a juice can with nothing but water in it!  Jere and I had many good and interesting times through the years,  some before and some after he married my sister.   I really think he has been one of the best christians I've ever known!

My husband and I first met Jere and Marilyn Stearman when they began attending the Eufaula Al SDA Church. I don't remember our first meeting, but I can't remember NOT knowing them. Jere and Marilyn became our mentors in the SDA Christian faith. We spent many Sabbath afternoons at their home, enjoying Sabbath dinners, Bible study, cooking recipes and discussing God's will for us as humans on this earth and ministry for Him. They groomed us in local church ministry, and soon I was teaching Sabbath School and Tom was anointed as deacon, then Elder. They were an example of pure Christian living, unadulterated by the world.
 Never moving ahead of the Lord's leading, I remember Marilyn saying, "The Lord would have to hit Jere over the head with a 2x4 before he makes a move." Said with such endearment, Jere would laugh and say, "Yeah, that's true."

Ever encouraging and ever pointing to our Lord and Saviour, as the beginning and the ending of all our dealings in life, is this dear couple, who was our privilege to know, commune with, dine with, study with and look forward to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our life is richer than words can express because God brought this wonderful couple to cross our path of life.

We look forward to seeing Jere meet his Saviour in the air, on that Grand Day, when his eyes meet the great God whom he has served so well.

My love to Marilyn, as she continues on in this great faith.

Victoria Ryan, Perkasie PA           

Dear Marilyn and family, we are so sorry for your loss.  Jere was a special person to those of us who knew him, and we will miss him.  His life and character reflected Jesus, and it was evident that his life was in tune with his Creator and Redeemer.  He was an extraordinary man, and anyone who knew him could not help but love him.  You have our deepest sympathy, and our prayers are with you.  Lovingly, John and Becky Campbell