Jerry Lahn Whatley Jr., 60, of Blanket Texas, and long-time resident of Austin, Texas, left this life on July 19th to join his Savior and Loved Ones Past. Born on April 18th, 1958 to Zane and Jerry Whatley in Denton, Texas, Lahn grew up in Blanket, Texas. After graduating from Blanket High School in 1976, he attended Tarlton State University before Marrying Lea Suzanne Turner, his beloved wife of 30 years in 1984, and continued his Education at Texas Tech University and the University of Texas.
Lahn enjoyed escaping Central Texas to spend time with his mother and family at their family ranch in Zephyr. He was a supportive father and coach to his three children, a lover and fosterer of dogs, a member of the Scottish Rite and Free Masons of Brownwood, and a passionate fan of Texas Tech University Football. He was a talented contractor, working as a Project Manager in the field of HVAC with projects ranging from the Llano County Courthouse to the Anaconda Military Base in Iraq. In Central Texas, he worked diligently in both HVAC and Motor Sales and was known as a rare, caring and honest seller. He earned the nickname “One and Only” as he obtained top ranking sales, customer satisfaction, and product knowledge awards while working for General Motors over the course of 6 years.
Above all else, Lahn was thankful and strong for his three children with Lea– Haley, Darby, and Turner. The happiest moments of his fatherhood included coaching Darby and Turner in basketball and baseball, respectively, and seeing Haley graduate from Texas Tech University in 2012, after a winning Red Raider Football Season.
Lahn is survived by his loving mother, Zane Whatley, aunt Mildred Nunneley, sister Zana Whatley Gill (Woody Gill), Brother Bill Whatley (Helen Whatley), his niece Jacey Gill, a host of cousins, and his three children, who will remember his complimentary capacities for adamant protection and genuine sensitivity. This cherished father was preceded in death by his father, Jerry Whatley, his uncle Trent Whatley, and his aunts, Rita Channas and Ann Markin.
Lahn liked to say that he was “enduring to preserve”, a phrase that embodied not only the loving care he provided to his wife and children, but the pride he carried for his family history and upbringing. His favorite saying was one of his father’s, often repeated by Lahn, “The older you get, the smarter I get”, and like his father, Lahn will be remembered as brilliantly sincere.
His service will be held at First Methodist Church in Blanket on Sunday, July 22nd at 4:30 in the afternoon. Interment will follow at Antioch Cemetery. Due to limited floral services in Brown County, family and friends of Central Texas are encouraged to make donations to the Williamson Country Animal Shelter in his name.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.heartlandfuneralhome.net
