Roll Call Tribute

Jerry Clay Harbert II
November 29, 1943 - November 18, 2021

Jerry Clay Harbert II, 77 of McKinney, Texas, passed away on November 18, 2021 after a stoic battle with cancer. Jerry was born on November 29, 1943 to Clay and Mary Lea Harbert in Amarillo, Texas. Jerry grew up farming and ranching on family land outside Dumas, Texas under the tutelage of his dad and uncles. After graduating from Dumas High School in 1962, he went on to study animal husbandry at Texas A&M University, graduating in 1966, where he was a proud member of the Corp of Cadets, Company D-1 (Spider D) serving as Company Clerk. Spider D was infamous among the Corp and the company continued to meet regularly throughout the years where stories were retold, and much laughter enjoyed.

Jerry and his Corp fish-old-lady Jim Robinson team roped all over north Texas during college and there were many tales of their escapades that included wild mare races, winning and losing, running out of gas, leaving their truck and horse trailer on the side of the road and riding their horses’ home, as well as nights sleeping it off in the trailer. After graduation Jerry returned to the family farm to take charge due to his father’s illness which prevented him from accepting a commission and serving in Vietnam as did many of his classmates. Jerry was married to Carolyn Cooper from 1965- 1976 and into this marriage three children were born- Clint Bradford, Sarita Jo and John Clay who spent summers working on the farm. There was also much fun with motorcycle racing, horse riding, windmill climbing, water and snow skiing and weed pulling if anyone said they were bored.

Jerry continued to farm and ranch the family land and during this time he also sold insurance and had a real estate development enterprise. He was a pilot who owned and loved flying his Cessna 175. This included many trips between Dumas and Laverne, Oklahoma to transport Clint, Sarita and John. He moved to the DFW area in 1987 working in various sales and marketing positions. In 1988, he wed Glenda Decker, adopted Summer Leigh and Jenna Catelyn Slade was born in 1989. They resided in Carrollton, Texas until 2020 when they relocated to McKinney.

Jerry established and operated a drapery installation business until 2009 working with many designers in the DFW area. After a few months of retirement in 2009, he joined the Merchandising Execution Team (MET) at Home Depot, making wonderful friends while working part time until his illness in 2020. Jerry and Glenda both grew up going to Red River, New Mexico and they enjoyed spending time there on many family vacations sitting by the river, fishing, skiing and visiting Santa Fe and Taos. Jerry spent his time off reading, enjoying family and visiting with his best buddies who met most Wednesdays and Fridays to smoke cigars, drink whiskey and shoot good bull stories. Jerry loved the Texas Aggies, his family and friends, skiing, good Tex-Mex, telling jokes, art, sci-fi, eclectic music, catching trout and winning chili contests. He had a sharp mind and wit and could remember things everyone else forgot or never even knew and was a great trivia player. It was the ultimate irony that while he traveled to Austin as a student to voice opposition to the admission of women to TAMU, he was very proud that his two youngest daughters attended and graduated TAMU!

Jerry was predeceased by his parents and his brother Gary. He leaves behind his loving wife, Glenda Harbert, five beloved children and eight joyous grandchildren; Clint Harbert of Houston, Texas; Sarita Neyman of Gunnison, Colorado, her husband Tim and their daughter Olivia; John Harbert of Owasso, Oklahoma, his wife Jennifer and their children Austin, Marisa and Katlyn; Summer Hammerle '00 of McKinney, Texas, her husband Mark and their children Landon, Cole and Ella; and Jenna Simmons '12 of McKinney, Texas, her husband Ramsey '11 and their daughter River. He is also survived by his first wife and mother to Clint, Sarita and John, Carolyn Saunders, Glenda's mother, Roberta Methvin and Glenda's son, Andy Jacobi.

Texas A&M Corps of Cadets 1. Go to txamfoundation.com 2. Click on Make an Online Gift 3. Select unit or College; from drop down menu choose Corps of Cadets 4. Select department or account; from drop down menu choose Corps of Cadets Center 5. Enter or choose donation amount 6. Enter personal information 7. Choose “This gift is in honor of someone special” 8. In additional comments enter: In honor of Jerry C. Harbert II, Class of 1966 (Next of kin Glenda Harbert- will be notified of donations) 9. Review gift & finalize

Thank you, Glenda