Jerry Jeemes Presley

Jerry Jeemes Presley, 94, passed away on August 9, 2025 with his family by his side. A lifelong Missourian, Jerry was born on December 17, 1930 in St. Louis and was raised in Low Wassie, Missouri by his grandmother, Della Mae Jones. Jerry graduated from Winona High School in 1949 and joined the Navy in 1950. 

Following his Naval service, Jerry enrolled at the University of Missouri, graduating in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Forest Management. After graduation, Jerry accepted a position with the Missouri Department of Conservation, where he would spend the next 39 years building his career and working to protect and manage the fish, forests, and wildlife of Missouri. His career with MDC culminated in serving as director from 1988 until his retirement in 1997. 

Jerry married Bonnie Gale Barnes in 1955 and they raised two children, Nanci and Jeff. He leaves behind not only a professional legacy in conservation, but also a personal legacy. Through countless hikes, fishing and floating trips, and camping adventures, he instilled a love of the outdoors in his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren sharing his knowledge of Missouri’s natural resources and outdoor recreation. He was an avid fisherman and especially loved goggle-eye fishing. It would not be uncommon to see him in his John boat, enjoying a day of fishing or working to get the gravel out of the motor. 

Jerry loved baseball, particularly Cardinals baseball, and looked forward to listening to games on the radio. He was a member of the American Legion Roscoe Enloe Post 5 in Jefferson City where he coached the baseball team for several years and worked in the kitchen for the weekly Friday night fish fry. He was also a member of the American Legion Forty and Eight. 

Jerry is survived by his daughter Nanci (Steve) Beck; daughter-in-law Kellie Presley; 7 grandchildren: Adrian (Brad) Bell, Andy (Elizabeth) Beck, Jessie (Jason) Moan, Melissa (Dan) Demarest, Jay Presley, Jason (Maddie) Presley, and Aaron Presley; 9 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. 

Jerry was preceded in death by his wife Bonnie, his son Jeff Presley, grandmother Della Mae Jones, and his parents. 

A memorial service will be held at Houser-Millard Funeral Home in Jefferson City, Missouri on August 22, 2025, at 1:00pm. Graveside services will be held at 11:00am on August 23, 2025, at Pleasant Site Cemetery in Fremont, MO. In lieu of flowers, the family requests expressions of sympathy to be made in the form of donations to the Jerry J. Presley Conservation Endowed Scholarship at the University of Missouri. The website to make donations is https://mizzou.us/JerryPresley Memorial 

Arrangements are under the direction of HOUSER-MILLARD Funeral Directors, 2613 W. Main St.; Jefferson City, MO 65109. (573) 636-3838. Condolences may be left for the family online at www.millardfamilychapels.com