Jerry Ralph Harrod was born July 10, 1943 in Eureka, Kansas to Ralph W. and Elizabeth (Clum) Harrod. He attended Fiat Grade Schoolin rural Elk County before moving to Howard, Kansas where he completed his education, graduating with the Class of 1961 from Howard High School.
Jerry married Mary Buffalow on October 12, 1963, and to this union were born two sons, Gary and Greg. Jerry worked in construction before starting his own business in 1970 - Harrod's Blacksmith and Welding. He, along with Mary and Gary, grew and expanded their business to serve the needs of their local and surrounding communities, creating Harrods, Inc. From helping the small farmer to supporting large oil field companies, Jerry devoted himself to applying his many skills and years of experience to solve almost any kind of challenges his customers faced.
Even when his aging body began to fail him, he found ways to make his backhoe his "right hand man" so he could keep working, as he did almost every day of his life. While Jerry was deeply committed to the business, he was just as committed to loving and caring for his family.
Jerry is survived by his wife, Mary of the home; sons, Gary Harrod of Howard, Kansas and Greg (Kiersten) Harrod of Wichita, Kansas; his brother, Weldon Harrod of Ottawa, Kansas; and his sister, Janis (Nathan) Fuqua of Douglass, Kansas. Jerry had five grandchildren, Kayla Fulsom, Ashley Porter, Aidan, Donovan, and Keegan Harrod and six great-grandchildren, Jaxon, Carly, Reese, and Halle Fulsom and Millie and Ada Porter. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, a daughter-in-law, and a grandson.
Funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 20, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.at Countryside Funeral Home in Howard, Kansas with burial to follow at Grace Lawn Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Friday, September 19, 2025 from 5:30 p.m.to 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, you are invited to contribute to the Elk County Community Foundation to help support the community in which Jerry lived his entire life. These memorials may be left with or sent to the funeral home. Online condolences for the family may be left online at www.countrysidefh.com. Services are under the direction of Countryside Funeral Home. 206 E. Washington, Howard, Kansas 67349.
(taken from the Countryside Funeral Home website)