Jerry Lee McCullick

Jerry Lee McCullick, 66, El Dorado Springs, went to the shooting range in the sky the afternoon of Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, after a short illness. Jerry was born Dec. 14, 1957 to Leo and Joann (Hardy) McCullick. Jerry attended school at Fort Scott Christian Heights through eleventh grade, then graduated from El Dorado Springs High School in 1975 where he earned the apt nickname “Tree.”

After meeting on a blind date, Jerry married Julie Ann Loyd of Walker, MO, on Feb. 5, 1982. They went on to have three children, Jeremy Lee, Luke Harrison and Megan LeAnn.

Jerry graduated from the Police Academy at Missouri Southern State University, and was a reserve police officer for El Dorado Springs in his mid-30. He retired from O’Reilly Auto Parts after over 40 years of service. After retirement, he spent his time at Bear Arms gun shop sharing his love of guns with others.

He was a man of many talents including racing go carts, stock cars, dragsters and dirt bikes, building motors, fixing cars, competition shooting, and gunsmithing, among many other skills. People could always call him and describe a sound their car was making or an issue their gun was having, and he could immediately diagnose the problem.

In addition to being a dedicated husband, father, and Papa, Jerry enjoyed building cars, jeeping, riding his motorcycle, spending the summers with his grandsons, traveling with family, dominating at shooting competitions, camping, reloading, working in his shop and making things go fast to satisfy his need for speed.

Jerry might have been a “gentle giant,” but he was a fierce protector of his family. There’s no doubt he left us too soon, but because of who he was, we have countless memories and experiences that will last us a lifetime.

Jerry joins his mother, Joann, along with his sister and brother-in-law, Leola and Wayne Downer, in heaven. He is survived by his wife, Julie; his son and daughter-in-law, Jeremy and Jami McCullick; his son, Luke McCullick; his daughter and son-in-law, Megan and Jason Biddlecome; his grandsons, Anthony and Gunner Biddlecome; and his father, Leo McCullick.

Services for Jerry McCullick was held Monday, Sept. 16, at El dorado Springs Church of God (Holiness), under the direction of Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home. He was laid to rest at El Dorado Springs City Cemetery.