Memorial service for Jerry W. Pursley, 73, of Waco, TX will be at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 9, 2013 at Becker-Rabon Funeral Home Chapel with his friend Rev. Terry Marsh, officiating. Mr. Pursley passed away on Wednesday, June 26, 2013 in Dallas, TX. Jerry was born on December 19, 1939 in Lawton, Oklahoma to Carmen R. and Bonnie L. (Gibson) Pursley. At a young age he was involved in Boy Scouts and several youth football programs. He attended Will Rogers Elementary, Central Junior High, and graduated from Lawton High School in 1957 where he was President of his Senior Class and a member of DECA. He also attended Cameron University for several years. During and after high school, Jerry worked in retail at Towne's Men's Store owned by Ben Stein and J.C. Penney. In the early 1960s, he began his long career with KSWO-TV starting out in sales and later promoted to Sales Manager. After leaving KSWO he moved to Waco, TX to become the Station Manager at Channel 25, KXXV, for several years. He left Channel 25 and went on to work for the Waco Tribune-Herald until his death. Jerry always cherished the many friendships that he made throughout his career and those families were very special to him. Jerry was actively involved in his children's education and school activities as well as family activities as they were growing up. The family owned a boathouse and watercraft during the late 1970's and early 80's spending many hours boating, skiing, and fishing. Also, one of his earliest hobbies was riding dirt bikes and working the Saturday night Lawton Speedway races. The family also had a tradition for over 20 years vacationing in Red River, New Mexico where many special memories were created and cherished to this day. He continued to enjoy, with his long time friend Leonard Payne, his most favorite hobby of driving the jeep trails in Red River, New Mexico and the Lake City, Colorado area until 2012. He also had a passion for karaoke, NASCAR, carpentry, yard work, and watching classic movies/westerns especially starring John Wayne. Jerry married Mary Ann Goode on March 14, 1959 in Wichita Falls, Texas. They were married for over 20 years. From that union two children were born, a son, Paul Mark Pursley, and a daughter, Carol Ann Pursley. He later became engaged to Terry Burt who battled with cancer and died in 1991. He was then married to Betty Gates and spent several memorable years traveling with her and their dog Rio. All of these relationships were special to him. He was especially fond of Terry's family as well as Betty's children, Preston, Brian, and Crystal. Survivors include his son, Mark Pursley and two children, Matthew and Morgan and their mother Melissa Pursley of McKinney, TX; his daughter, Carol Ann Conner and two sons, Jake and Clayton and their father Steve Conner, all of Lawton, OK; his sister, Sharon Meisenzahl and her husband, Kurt, of Lawton along with their children, Dan and Su Meisenzahl and children, Maya and Kayla of Honolulu, Hawaii and David and Hisako Meisenzahl and son, Frankie of Tokyo, Japan, , two aunts, Wilma Pursley of Richardson, TX and Edna Pursley of Amarillo, TX, special friends, Leonard and Romaine Payne, Cindy Coleman, Staci Tindell-Lumley, and many other friends and cousins. Mr. Pursley was preceded in death by his parents, Carmen and Bonnie Pursley, his grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Lee Pursley, and Mr. and Mrs. Tobe Gibson, his fiancée, Terry Burt, and many other friends, aunts, uncles, and cousins. His daughter Carol remembers a statement made by her father and feels that it was truly a reflection of his character, "It doesn't cost a thing to be nice". He was a loving father, dedicated to his work and a friend that anyone would ever be proud to have. Memorial contributions may be made to The American Cancer Society, 1320 NW Homestead Lane, Lawton, Oklahoma 73505 or the charity of the donor's choice.