Gerry was born in Cadiz, KY, the second surviving child of Malcolm T. & Rhea Doom Fowler.  The family moved to Alton, IL where Gerry grew up, and along with his brother Malcolm got into all sorts of trouble and adventures.  You may want to ask Malcolm about that, since Gerry won't be telling any more tales.  Gerry was in the long-term health care industry during his career, including working as a nursing home administrator and other management positions in the industry for several different companies over the years, and owning several of his own nursing homes.  He was a licensed administrator in seven different states.

Gerry served in the army from 1963 – 1966, earning an honorable discharge.  He used the GI Bill to return to college at Lewis & Clark Community College and Sagamon State University.

He was an avid outdoorsman in every sense of the word.  If there was a body of water nearby, or a creek or a puddle, you could usually find Gerry there, either boating, swimming, or fishing.  He enjoyed hunting and had a private pilots license and his own plane for a number of years.  He also had a love-hate relationship with that game called golf.  Oldest son Tim now has Gerry's clubs to carry on the legacy.  Gerry was a Harley Davidson guy, and he, his brother Malcolm, and sons Mark and Chris took a road trip to Corpus Christie, TX in April 2005.  They made some great memories and that was the last time Gerry road a hog.  Last summer Gerry and Gail bought a travel trailer, fondly referred to as the Tiny House, and they took lots of trips to state parks in TX, OK, and KY where they fished and just got away from the daily grind of fighting POEMS syndrome.

Gerry married Gail Yorgason on February 14, 2004 in Lewisville, TX.  His wife Gail, sons Timothy Fowler, Mark Fowler, Christopher Fowler, and Tony Ward, and brother Malcolm Fowler, sisters Carol Groppel and Rae Harless, several grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews survive Gerry. His family was always important to Gerry, and he was so pleased to have his family rally around him at the end of his life.

The family would like to thank Dr. Lee C. Drinkard and his nurses and staff that cared for Gerry during the last 2+ years of his life.  The excellent medical care combined with compassion and caring both for Gerry and Gail, was responsible for extending both the length of Gerry's life and more importantly, the quality of his life.  Thanks also to the staff of Lion Hospice who extended support to both Gerry and Gail during the last two weeks of his life, especially Nurse Kathy Bridges and Chaplain Pam Wat.  Their care and help enabled Gerry to be at home where he wanted to be, surrounded by his family, and out of pain until he went home to God.

The family requests donations be made to St Jude Children's Hospital www.StJude.org in Gerry's memory.