Jerry Wayne Cranford was born on July 5, 1940, in Matoy, Oklahoma to parents, Norvil C. and Ruby Iona (Gray) Cranford. Jerry passed away on July 26, 2024, at his home in Durant, Oklahoma at the age of 84.
Jerry graduated from Durant High School then spent one year in the Oklahoma National Guard, 45th Infantry Division, Headquarters Company, as a truck driver. Jerry joined the U.S. Navy on July 1, 1958, attended basic training in San Diego, Calif. and spent the remainder of his first tour in Corpus Christi, Texas, on temporary duty, then to Oxnard, Calif., Point Mugo Naval Station, which is the Headquarters for the Pacific Missile Range, and was discharged on July 3, 1961.
Jerry married his high school sweetheart, Mary Elizabeth Wagoner on October 1, 1958, while on leave from basic training. On March 28, 1961, their son Denis Wayne Cranford was born in Oxnard, Calif., Port Huneme.
While discharged from the Navy, Jerry went to work for Colvert’s Dairy Products and made home deliveries in Hugo, Okla. On December 1961, Jerry reenlisted in the Navy, attended schools in Memphis, Tenn. and San Diego, Calif., and then stationed in Whidbey Island, Wash. in Patrol Squadron 47, where he flew the P5-M Seaplane as Flight Engineer. The squadron had the job of protecting the West coast of the U.S. and shipping in the Pacific Ocean from submarines. They hunted submarines from the air. The squadron made one deployment to Sangley Point, Philippines for 7 months and flew patrols off the coast of Vietnam. In 1965, the squadron moved to Moffett Field, CA and made the transition to P-3 Orion with 4 turboprop (jet) engines. At the time this was the most advanced sub hunting aircraft. Jerry’s time in the squadron expired three months later and he transferred to the Naval Station in Grand Prairie, TX where his job consisted of training Naval Reserves in flying the P-2 Neptune Patrol Aircraft. Jerry trained the Flight Engineers and Mechanics.
In 1970, Jerry transferred back to Moffett Field, Cailf., to VP-9, another sub hunting squadron, and made two deployments to Iwakuni, Japan, again patrolling the coasts of Japan, Korea, and Vietnam for enemy submarines and spy ship/boats. In 1974, Jerry was transferred to Mineral Wells, Texas, for recruiting duty, which was a recruiting station for many in the Navy Recruiting Command in Dallas, Texas. Later he was transferred to the Irving, Texas, recruiting station then later yet, he transferred to the Recruiting Command Headquarters in Dallas as the Chief Recruiter. Jerry retired from the Navy on July 5, 1978, and was credited with 22 years of service.
He immediately went to work for the Pettibone Corporation, a heavy equipment company, renting and selling to the construction industry as the sales coordinator, later promoted to the Branch manager position. In 1978, Jerry went to work for Eager Beaver Trailer Company in Arlington, Texas, then in 1989, Trail King industries hired him as District Sales Manager for the states of Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. In 2002, Jerry retired from Trail King and full-time work, but maintained an independent sales contract with Trinity Trailer Sales in Dallas and just worked on a part time basis until 2009, when he retired completely.
Jerry is preceded in death by his wife, Mary Elizabeth (Wagoner) Cranford; parents, N.C. and Ruby Iona (Gray) Cranford; grandparents, Early Daughtry and Gertrude Estell (Elliott) Cranford and Arley Prentice (A.P.) and Jeannie Elizabeth (McCurdy) Gray.
Jerry is survived by son, Denis W. Cranford of Ft. Worth, Texas; sisters, Carol (Cranford) Ware of Pasadena, Texas, Pam (Cranford) Manners of Calera, Okla., and Susan (Cranford) Rogers and husband Eldon of Norman, Okla.; brother, Eddie Cranford and wife Carolyn of Achille, Okla.; special friend and travel companion Diana White of Durant, Okla. and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, August 1, 2024, at the First Baptist Church in Durant, Okla. Pastor Garry McNeill will officiate. Honorary pallbearers will be Bob Ware, Ed Powers, Don Underwood, Charles Breedlove, Nilan Reed, and Lloyd Manners. Interment with Full Military Honors will be in Highland Cemetery in Durant.
The family will receive friends at the Funeral Home on Wednesday evening from 6-8 p.m.
Arrangements are under the direction of Brown’s Durant Funeral and Cremation Service.
