WESTERLO — Specialist Four Gerald Leonard Scoons, known as “Jerry” or “Jake,” “entered into the Kingdom of God” on Thursday, May 8, 2025, his family wrote in a tribute. He was 85.

“Jerry received his honorable discharge,” his family wrote, “following two years of U.S. Army service where he had been stationed in Okinawa during the start of the Vietnam War. 

“Jerry lived in Slingerlands, attending the Bethlehem Central School System. He enjoyed performing saxophone solos at BCJHS arts festivals and helped with the scenery for the fourth-grade puppet show ‘Jack and the Beanstalk.’

“As Captain of the Gym Club for several years, he represented BCJHS at the American Turners Competitions. Jerry could drink milk from a bottle with a straw while doing a handstand, walk upstairs on his hands, and do a one-arm planchet in the high school athletic demonstrations along with his friends Danny Van Hoesen and Spencer Flansburg doing handstands.

“He was also an unknown inventor along with his three friends David Hawley, David Flansburg, and John Sutliff, who built a ‘sitter mower’ to cut grass in 1954, at the age of 14. It had a cushioned seat and a caboose for your friends to ride along with you.

“Jerry could be seen helping out his family and Charlie at Sanders gas station and store, plus helping Ruth Minor keep her lawn rolled and up to snuff. Many others hired the outgoing groomer and energetic proud groundskeeper who helped beautify Slingerlands.

“He earned his GED and, with his pleasant demeanor and thoughtfulness of others, he was hired by many local contractors in the Delmar area. He became a skilled tradesman, hiring on with Weber Bros., Inc., retiring after 23 years, building many fine homes in Delmar. 

“His hobbies included superior gardening, raising 3- to 4-pound tomatoes, sunflowers over twice his height; fishing the Atlantic Ocean Charters and Lake Erie where he caught his 30-pound salmon; hunting in the Wells area of the Adirondacks; traveling to Europe when his son was in service at Spangdahlem Air Base in West Germany; and adventuring along the Amazon River.

“He also loved to laugh and make others do the same with his witty and natural sense of humor.”

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He married Patricia Ann (née Winne) Scoons on Oct. 17, 1965. They bought 12 acres in Westerlo and moved from Kissel's trailer park to build their ranch home and raise their three children: Douglas Scoons, Barbara Jansen (Jody) and Christopher Scoons.

He was the biological father of Patricia Erikson, DVM; grandfather of Valerie Bradley, Nicholas Jansen (Alicia Jones), and Hunter Scott Montgomery Scoons of Dayton, Tennessee; great-grandfather of Rachel Bradley.”

He is survived by his brothers-in-law, Peter Winne and Robert Wilson, plus many nieces, nephews, cousins, great nieces and great nephews.

His father, Clarence W. Scoons, and his mother, Elizabeth M. Scoons, died before him, as did his siblings, Elizabeth M. Moak, (brother-in-law) William Moak, (Skip) Clarence W. Scoons Jr., (sister-in-law) Audrey Stockwell, and Carol Wilson. 

A celebration of life will be held on June 28 at 2 p.m. at 28 Jansen Lane in Berne, NY 12023. Please RSVP through Douglas Scoons at Hunter2495@gmail.com and Barbara Jansen at Barbarajansen6@gmail.com.