Publisher’s note: I knew Dr. Jury for 60 years. There is something special about a man who cares for the animals who care for us, and who, like he did with Radagast (shown in photo with Dr. Jury) and many other pets over the years, will shed a tear with you when it is time to say goodbye. Dr. Jury wrote his own obituary and we publish it here with the permission of his wonderful wife and companion, Pat. They are each and both, Lubbock Lights.
Dr. George William Jury died February 27 at the age of 89 and went to join his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Dr. Jury was born August 7, 1936 in Borger, Texas to Albin Eugene and Bessie Cathryn Bynum Jury. The family moved to Hereford, Texas in 1942 where he attended school through the 9th grade. The family then moved near Fair Play, Missouri in 1952, where he attended high school at Stockton, Missouri, graduating in 1955.
With the help of several scholarships he attended the University of Missouri at Columbia majoring in Pre-Veterinary Medicine. He was accepted into the School of Veterinary Medicine for the fall of 1958 and graduated with his degree, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1962. He met the love of his life, Patricia Ann Baskett in 1956 and they were married in 1958. Three children were born, Lucretia Lynne, Jeffrey Mark and Bradley Scott, while Pat worked full time to support this family through the four years of veterinary school.
After graduation, Dr. Jury came back to Texas, taking a job with the USDA Disease Eradication Division out of Austin and the family lived in Fredericksburg through September 1963. Then Dr. Victor Kothmann offered him his first private practice opportunity in Mason, a position only available for one year. From 1964 to 1967 he was associated with first, Dr. Valton Cox, then Dr. David Williams in Lubbock. He established his own private practice in 1967, Southwest Animal Clinic, restricting the practice to dogs and cats. He felt like God called him to this ministry of serving people in this way. He retired in 2024 after practicing 62 years.
He and Pat joined Monterey Baptist Church in October 1964 and have served the Lord there since. Pat served in the music ministry as church organist for more than 59 years. Dr. Jury accepted Christ as his Savior at 11 years of age in the Sunday School of First Baptist Church at Hereford, Texas, due to the influence of his mother and two Sunday School teachers, Tandy Legg and Gordon Slaughter.
Dr. Jury has been involved in promoting his profession, serving as a district director from the South Plains for many years in the Texas Veterinary Medical Association, then, was elected to every office in the TVMA, becoming president in 1986. He was a firm believer in continuing education and a charter member of the Texas Academy of Veterinary Practice. Locally, he was a member of the South Plains Lions Club and served two six year terms on the Lubbock City/County Health board in 1970 and again in 1986. In 2018 he was recognized as Alumnus of the Year by the University of Missouri, College of Veterinary Medicine.
His interests outside his beloved profession include running, birdwatching, hiking, camping, gardening, bicycling and carpentry.
He joined the West Texas Running Club in 1978 and ran in his first race with the group in 1979 and completed his first marathon in May 1980. He loved the social atmosphere and the people also involved with this sport and strived to improve on his personal records for each distance. He continued to improve on his personal times until he hit his bests, beginning at age 49. At the time of his death he still held 30 of the 36 age-group records he set from age 49 to 60. An illness, then an injury from a bicycle accident put an end to his running, but he has continued to volunteer with the West Texas Running Club for many years to encourage others to participate and stay physically fit. (Between 1978 and 1996 he logged over 32,000 miles running!)
He considered himself a naturalist, conservationist and environmentalist. He was a member of the Nature Conservancy, Native Plant Society of Texas, National Parks Association, National Audubon and the Llano Estacado Audubon Society and the National Wildlife Federation. His and Pat’s yard/garden consisted mainly of native plants and wildflowers and was recognized on many occasions for being water conserving.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Pat, daughter Lynne Jury, of Cedar Park; sons, Jeffrey of Fountain, Colorado and Brad of Lubbock; grandson, Peter Menchu; nephew Victor II and his wife Mary. He was preceded in death by a sister, Florence in 1933; brothers Gene Ray, Victor and Maurice (at 100+) in 2021; his parents; and his beloved son-in-law, Andy Menchu.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to:
Christian Veterinary Mission
Post Office Box 5888
Lynwood, WA 98046-9906
or
South Plains Wildlife Rehabilitation
3308 95th St.
Lubbock, TX 79423
Related
Related posts