Jerry Godby

Jerry Godby departed this mortal world in the early morning hours of November 10, 2025 at the age of 102, one month shy of 103. On Sunday night, under the attention of a hospice caregiver, he stated he was ready for death. In the early morning hours he passed beyond the veil.

“To sleep, perchance to Dream; aye, there's the rub,

For in that sleep of death what dreams may come

When we have shuffled off the mortal coil,

Must give us pause: there’s the respect.”

Hamlet Act 3, Scene 1

William Shakespeare

He was born December 15, 1922 on a red dirt farm south of Caldwell in Burleson County Texas. His father was Enoch Paul Godby and mother Myrtle Carrington Godby. They had four other children, Jack Gordon Godby who succumbed at age two. A daughter Gladys Marie Godby and two other sons John Carrinton Godby and Cabble Edward Godby.

It was a hard scrabble existence in those days. During farming season Enoch and the kids would go to the field after breakfast. After cleaning the kitchen, his mother would join them, then return to the house to prepare each subsequent meal. Following dinner, they enjoyed the evening together listening to the radio.

Their farm had a tank where the kids swam and frolicked in the summer months. They all decided they needed a diving board. They found a long board and wedged it under a tree root with a rock on top.

They had great fun in the summers, but you can imagine how it was in the winter months. The kids were told not to get on the frozen over tank. With that admonition, they had to try it and soon found themselves in the ice-cold water. I wonder what was said when they finally got home wet, cold and shivering!

Enoch and his brother John Dugan, bought the farm together under an oral agreement, but John was listed as owner. With his sudden death in 1933, John’s wife ordered the family off the farm. Jerry remembers that being the only time he saw his father cry.

After relocating, Enoch drove a school bus and the children went to high school in Caldwell. Upon graduation in 1940, Jerry was hired by the Santa Fe Railway and assigned to Meridian, Texas.

In 1943, he was drafted by the US Army serving in the South West Pacific theatre in New Guinea and Borneo. He was a plotter, an early precursor of air traffic controllers, who

tracked allied bombers, escort and fighter planes, as well as enemy aircraft. It was certainly a very important job.

Following the war, he retuned to Meridian and met Berfa Nell Hall. Part of their courtship happened at Meridian State Park where the couple danced under the pavilion to swing music. They jitterbugged with the best of them and subsequently were married on January 3, 1948.

In early summer of 1948, he applied to work for the Texas Highway Department, now called TxDOT. He was hired in August of ’48 and started a long career with that agency.

In September, their first son William Paul was born. The district office was in Clifton, so they relocated there in 1950 and subsequently had another son Jerry Don.

A contractor he worked with, sent a card of congratulations and a check for $20. He drove home soon after, proud of a new investment he made with the money, buying a baby calf and transporting it home in the front seat of his car.

Nell said, “I saw him coming up the drive with someone in the front seat. I was very surprised and a little bit put off because the calf was in my seat in the car!”

In 1952 they moved to “Silk Stockings Avenue”, a moniker for West Hackberry Street. They lived on what might be called the Maginot Line. West of that line was where the wealthy people lived and east was populated by regular folks. The street was not paved at that time, so all got their share of dust! Their third son, Thomas Edward was born in 1959.

There was nothing he couldn’t do. He repaired their autos, fixed the television and cut the boys’ hair. He built roads, bridges and a house. In addition to being a voracious fisherman, he also hunted rattlesnakes, receiving s bounty for each rattler from the county. Jerry once transported a cage of live rattlesnakes delivering them to a snake farm in New Braunfels.

In 1964, he started building the family a new home. Ever energetic and frugal, he bid on an abandoned church in Womack. His bid was accepted.

Built on a pier and beam foundation ensuring a long life, the lumber and materials salvaged from the church were used in the construction of their new home. It was truly a sine qua non effort on Jerry’s part for his family.

In the late 60’s, he transferred to the Temple District Office and then to Waco. Jerry was an inspector overseeing the work of the contractors.

He had one maxim espousing this point, “there’s one way to do it right, and a zillion ways to do it wrong.” One would have to say he wasn’t too popular with the contractors. He endured the trials and tribulations through a long career, ultimately retiring in 1981.

In retirement, Jerry continued working, still imbued with his desire to accrue wealth. He would buy and sell equipment from state auctions. He knew where to dig a gravel pit and would lease the area from the owner. With the equipment he owned, Jerry would repair roads in the rural areas, as well as a multitude of construction projects.

He taught Jerry Don how to build a road and helped in purchasing heavy equipment for his business, which also included building stock tanks. In addition he was also financially supportive of his other sons.

Jerry purchased several pieces of property on North Hiway 6 leading to a large amount of rental money. He remained very active working until he was in his late 90’s. He continued playing dominos at the American Legion Hall daily and was ever present in looking for bargains.

What is the measure of a man? He was blessed with a long, productive life, gifted with three sons, two grand daughters and four great grandchildren. He had a great sense of humor and was liked by all. He was also married to a loving, supportive wife. In response to a question asked of them regarding the secret of a good marriage, Nell responded “Don’t give up!” To which Jerry replied, “It’s give and take.” As the years passed, his gratitude was inspiring and he lived with that awareness.

Jerry is survived by his wife of eighty years, Berfa Nell Godby. Three sons William Paul Godby, Jerry Don Godby and wife Kaye Dietiker Godby, Thomas Edward Godby and wife Debra Hayes Godby, all from Clifton. Two grandchildren Wesley Eran Reece and husband Scott Kenneth Reece from East Lansing, Michigan. Jacqueline Denise Greenroad and her husband Joseph C. Greenroad from Stephenville, Texas. Four great grandchildren, Chloe Mackenzie Reece and David Andrew Reece from East Lansing, Michigan. Carson Joedon Greenroad and Cooper Ryan Greenroad from Stephenville, Texas. And numerous nieces and nephews from his siblings.

“In the silent knowledge of the beyond, we find solace in the understanding that our hopes, desires, and the love we shared with the departed are eternally preserved.”

With gratitude and love, farewell Pop.

Services will be held at a later date.