07/06/2026
Gerald Corbett Williams
Gerald "Jerry" Corbett Williams
April 10, 1966 – June 24, 2026
Gerald "Jerry" Corbett Williams, 60, passed away on June 24, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family.
Born on Easter Sunday, April 10, 1966, to Johnnie and Shirley Williams, Jerry was proud of the special connection he shared with Easter. Every year he looked ahead on the calendar to see when his birthday would once again fall on Easter Sunday, something that always brought him joy.
Jerry's life revolved around being a dad.
Everything he did was for his children. There wasn't a hobby, an adventure, or a project that he didn't find a way to include them in. His children weren't simply part of his life—they were his greatest purpose.
His biggest passion was sprint car racing. Some of his kid's favorite childhood memories were spent on warm summer Saturday nights following him through the pits while he pushed sprint cars with his beloved Land Cruiser. During the week they tagged along to the shop while the cars were worked on, and whether Jerry was feeding cows, going fishing, driving his big rig, or heading out hunting, there was always room for his kids to come with him. Those ordinary moments became the memories they now treasure most.
Jerry believed in showing up.
There wasn't a football game, baseball game, rodeo, school event, or milestone he wanted to miss. You could always hear him cheering from the stands—or coaching from the sidelines whether anyone asked him to or not. He believed in his children long before anyone else did.
That same love carried into becoming Grandpa.
Nothing made him prouder than his ten grandchildren. He celebrated each one individually, never missing an opportunity to attend a game, performance, or special event. Whether it meant traveling across town or across the state, Jerry was there. He wanted every one of his grandchildren to know how loved they were and how important family would always be.
If you needed help, you called Jerry.
Need to brand calves? Build a fence? Chop wood? Clean out a fireplace? Move? Fix something that quit working? Jerry was already on his way. If he heard someone was struggling, he'd simply show up with his tools and figure out how to help. He never expected recognition or thanks. Helping others wasn't something he did—it was simply who he was.
Retirement didn't slow him down. Instead, it gave him more time to care for others. He faithfully drove his parents to doctor's appointments, made sure they took their medications, checked in on them often, and quietly became their greatest source of support.
Jerry built a career as a professional truck driver and earned every endorsement possible, including HazMat certification. Whether hauling propane through snowy mountain passes, driving semis across California, or owning his own business transporting travel trailers across the country, he took tremendous pride in doing every job well. Wherever he worked, he believed success came through hard work, teamwork, and doing things the right way.
Outside of work, Jerry found joy in the outdoors. He loved ranching, hunting, fishing, camping, traveling, spending time at the family cabin, and helping on the Summers Ranch. He also loved history and had an incredible knack for solving problems. His family affectionately called him their "puzzle head" because there wasn't much he couldn't figure out.
Sprint car racing remained one of the great loves of his life. He loved the challenge of finding just the right adjustment to make a car faster and eventually served as crew chief for Mike McCreary's #71 sprint car. He loved everything about racing—not just the competition, but the friendships and teamwork that came with it.
Jerry never met a stranger.
Once he started talking to you, you weren't a stranger anymore—you were simply a friend he hadn't met yet. He loved visiting with people and could strike up a conversation anywhere he went. His quick wit, smart remarks, and unmistakable full-belly laugh left lasting impressions on everyone fortunate enough to know him. And if you missed one of his calls, chances are your voicemail began with, "Hello… why aren't you answering me? You can't be that busy." Those messages are now treasures to the people who loved him most.
He had the kind of smile that could light up a room. It was impossible to stay mad at Jerry for very long because sooner or later that smile would appear, followed closely by one of his jokes and usually the loudest laugh in the room.
Jerry loved Jesus and believed deeply in God. His faith wasn't confined to a building but was evident in the way he treated people every day. He believed in kindness, compassion, prayer, and serving others, living out his faith through his actions more than his words.
More than anything, Jerry taught his family what it means to show up.
He taught them to work hard, keep their word, return borrowed things in better condition than they received them, take pride in what they had, and always put family first. He showed them that love isn't measured by what you say, but by the time you give, the sacrifices you make, and the people you choose to stand beside.
Jerry is survived by his loving wife, Lisa Williams; his parents, Johnnie and Shirley Williams; Sister Tina Openshaw (Walter), his children, Natacha (Austin) Shipley, Daniel (Heather) Donatelli, Justin (Erika) Williams, and Joshua (Alexis) Williams; his beloved grandchildren, Kenneth Nemi, Parker Shipley, Krew Shipley, Isabella Donatelli, Ryder Snooks, Jaxson Shipley, Memphis Shipley, Jonah Williams, Bennett Williams, and Georgia Williams, several nieces and nephews along with many extended family members and countless friends who were blessed to know him.
A funeral service celebrating Jerry's life will be held on Friday, July 10, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Daneri Mortuary, followed immediately by a Celebration of Life at the Italian Picnic Grounds.
Though his absence leaves a hole that can never be filled, Jerry's legacy will live on in every fence built, every race watched, every grandchild cheered on, every helping hand offered without being asked, every joke that makes someone laugh a little too hard, and every person who chooses to simply show up for the people they love.
That was Jerry's greatest gift. He showed up.
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