Gerald Barney Haywood

January 21,1940 – October 20, 2025

Gerald (Jerry) Haywood, 85, of Atwater, California, passed away peacefully at his home on October 20, 2025. He was a beloved husband, brother, father, grandfather and great grandfather, and he will be dearly missed.

Jerry was born in 1940 to the late Earl and Adelaide Haywood, in Warsaw, New York. The first of what ended up being 9 children. Jerry was raised in Dansville, New York and graduated high school there in 1958. He excelled in Basketball, Football and Track.

Upon graduating, he enlisted in the United States Air force, where he would serve for the next 20 years. His first assignment was in France, where he met his soon to be wife, Lydia Verherstraeten. He was a proud veteran of the Vietnam War and was a member of the esteemed Strategic Air Command Honor Guard and proudly performed for numerous dignitaries and the President of the United States. In 1976 he graduated from the F.B.I. Academy in Quantico, Virginia before returning to his post in Belgium.

Jerry started his next career in 1983 with the Merced County Probation Department. While employed there he finished his post graduate education at Stanislaus State University, with a degree in Sociology. He took much joy in serving his community, with the same passion and pride as he did in the military.

Jerry spent much of his time with his family and friends. He really loved hunting with family, in California and all across the states. We couldn't leave him unsupervised; he might sleep through the afternoon or shoot the smallest buck on the mountain. He called those "Jerry Deer". He truly loved his family and cherished his time with his grandkids and great grandkids. Jerry's other true passion was running. He ran weekly with the Merced Running Club and qualified and competed in the Boston Marathon twice, his last in Boston was at age 70.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Earl Haywood and Adalaide Conlon, step-mother Doris Moose Haywood, his wife of 56 years, Lydia, wife of 6 years, Roxanne Grubb Haywood, sister JoAnn (Bill) Thompson and sister-in-law Diane (Keith) Mauro Haywood. He is survived by his four children, Mike (Sherry), Theresa, Kathi and Marc (Kelly), who together have given him 11 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. Other survivors include his siblings Sharon (Henry), Christine (Dan), Keith, Patti Jo (Steve), Randy (Scott), Kelly ( Kevin), Betsy (Brian) and numerous other family members in Belgium and the U.S.

Over 50 years later and the words still ring's true, Jerry was "second to none".

Our thoughts and prayers are for all of those that grieve his passing. A private Ceremony of Life will be held at his residence on a future date. In lieu of flowers please send donations to any veteran's organization in his name.

John 11: 25-26 "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die".