Jerry Louis Grimes

Jerry Louis Grimes, 86, of Siler City died Sunday, June 22, 2014 at his residence. Mr. Grimes was born in Harnett County on May 20, 1928 the son of Thomas H. and Glenna (Johnson) Grimes. Jerry was a member of the First Baptist Church of Siler City, the Siler City Masonic Lodge # 403 A.F. & A.M.. He attended Wake Forest University and was the owner/operator of Grimes Jewelry Store from 1948 until 1963. He served in the Siler City Fire Department from 1948 until 1963, serving as secretary, training officer, assistant chief and served as Chief from 1961 until 1963. He had served from 1967 until 1973 as the Fire Marshall for Wayne County. Jerry worked for the North Carolina Department of Insurance-Fire and Rescue Division as Director of Governmental Services from 1973 until retirement in 1989. During those years, he assisted over 600 rural fire departments to become recognized by the Insurance Industry for a fire insurance rate reduction. He traveled to and assisted Fire Departments in all 100 Counties of North Carolina. Jerry was a graduate of "Municipal and County Administration", Institute of Government at UNC-Chapel Hill, taught a class on "County Fire Protection" at the Institute of Government at UNC to local government officials for fifteen years. In 1981 he was selected as "Fireman of the Year" by the North Carolina State Firemen's Association. Working along with others, Jerry developed a mobile water supply system that gained the first acceptance by the Insurance Rate Bureau in North Carolina. This system is now used nationwide and brings a reduction in insurance in areas that do not have fire hydrants. Jerry was a member of the Chatham County Wildlife Club and a former board member of the Siler City Airport Authority. He was an Eagle Scout and a former scoutmaster. Jerry was an outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting, fishing and boating. He was preceded in death by his wife, Frances Curtis Grimes; his parents and brother, Francis H. Grimes. He is survived by his wife: Jane (Dennis) Grimes; daughter: Deborah L. Grimes of Siler City, NC; sons: Gregory T. and wife, Debbie T. Grimes of Siler City, NC, Dennis and wife, Jaki W. Norris of Richmond, VA; grandchildren, Jerry Thomas Grimes and wife, Ginger, Brandy G. Woody and husband, Donnie, Bobby Lee Frazier, Joey Norris, Kirby Norris and Carrie Norris; great-grandchildren, Anna Woody, Jackson Woody, Elliott Woody, Kennedy Grimes and Sadie Norris. The family will receive friends Tuesday, June 24, 2014 from 6:30-8:30 PM at Smith & Buckner Funeral Home, 230 North Second Avenue, Siler City, NC. The funeral will be Wednesday, June 25, 2014 at 11:00 AM at First Baptist Church, 314 N. 2nd Ave., Siler City with Rev. Tony Capehart and Jay Howell officiating. Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery, Siler City. Memorials may be made to UNC Hospice, PO Box 1077, Pittsboro, NC 27312, Siler City Fire Department, P O Box 581, Siler City, NC 27344 or the First Baptist Church, 314 N. 2nd Ave., Siler City, NC 27344. Online condolences may be made at www.pughfuneralhome.com.