McArthur Lee “Jerry” Buzzard, Jr., of Hillsboro, passed away Saturday, November 16, 2019, at Pocahontas Center in Marlinton.
Born May 12, 1946, in Marlinton, he was a son of the late McArthur Lee and Justine Blanchard Buzzard.
Jerry was a lifelong Christian. He graduated from Marlinton High School, Class of 1964, and attended Shepherd University and received a degree in education in 1969. After college, he returned home and began his lifelong career at Hillsboro School as a teacher for Pocahontas County Board of Education.
He married Charleen Hall Buzzard, and they settled in Hillsboro to start a family. Jerry went on to receive his Master’s Degree and to teach at Marlinton Middle School until his retirement. He remained a substitute teacher for a number of years.
Jerry had a love of sports and a passion for football. After playing four years of college football for the Shepherd University Rams, he returned home to Pocahontas County where he would coach many children in a wide variety of sports. He coached community teams, but officially began coaching school sports in 1978 when he was head coach for both boys and girls basketball and football at Hillsboro Elementary/Middle School.
Jerry not only enjoyed coaching his three sons, but all Pocahontas County youth, and continued to coach throughout his career. Although he was an enthusiast and coached many sports, his heart was with Pocahontas County High School Warrior Football where all three of his sons played, and he coached alongside friend Delmas Barb from 1990 to 1998.
In addition to team sports, Jerry was an avid outdoorsman and was quick to instill in his sons the love of hunting and fishing and was proud that it was carried down to his grandsons.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons, Michael Buzzard, of Marlinton, Matthew Buzzard, and wife, Jennifer, of Buckeye, and Mark Buzzard, and wife, Erica, of Renick Valley; three grandsons, Braxton Buzzard, and wife, Amanda, and Brody Buzzard, all of Buckeye, and Brendon Buzzard, of Marlinton; a granddaughter, Berkley Buzzard, of Buckeye; a great-grandson, Cole Michael Buzzard, of Buckeye; two sisters, Diane Clemet, and family, of Ponchatoula, Louisiana, and Wanda McLaughlin, and family, of Nicholasville, Kentucky.
Per his wishes, a graveside service of remembrance was held November 18 at Oak Grove Cemetery in Hillsboro.
Online condolences may be made at www.Lantzfuneralhome.com