Jerry Lou Browder

With deep sadness and abiding gratitude, we celebrate the life of Jerry Lou Browder, beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, and friend, who went home to be with the Lord on September 22, 2025, at the age of 77. Born on August 23, 1948, in San Angelo, Texas, Jerry lived a life of compassion, faith, and service that touched countless lives.

Jerry graduated from Central High School in San Angelo, where she was a proud majorette in the marching band, and later studied at San Angelo State University. She earned her BSN from the University of Texas at Austin. Called to missions as a young woman at First Baptist San Angelo, she faithfully followed that call throughout her life.

She worked as a registered nurse at Cook Children’s Hospital in Fort Worth, specializing in the NICU, where she cared deeply for her patients and their families. It was in Fort Worth where she met David E. Browder, the love of her life for 53 years of marriage. In between her years of hospital service, Jerry and David served as missionaries in Venezuela, where Jerry participated in medical “jornadas,” supported missionary families with healthcare needs, and championed constitutional rights for the Deaf community. She became fluent in Spanish, American Sign Language, and Venezuelan Sign Language, interpreting and creating church ministries for the Deaf in Venezuela and Montana.

In retirement, Jerry continued to share her gifts, teaching ASL to children at Inspire Academy in Colleyville and serving in ESL ministry at First Baptist Grapevine. She also participated in Bible Study Fellowship and stayed close to her missionary friends with weekly Saturday calls.

Jerry’s faith and love of family were central to her life. As “Abuela,” she cherished time with her grandchildren—Joshua, Emory, Ethan, Jordan, and Landry—hosting Cousins Camp, playing 42 and card games, baking “Meme’s Rolls,” decorating with Chrismon’s at Christmas, and cheering at volleyball and basketball games, tennis matches, and theater and choir performances. She was known for her warmth, her inquisitive spirit, her love of music (from Elvis and George Strait to hymns), and her passion for line dancing, peanut butter and chocolate, and collecting manger scenes and Venezuelan artwork.

She is survived by her devoted husband, David E. Browder; daughter, Camille Smith and husband Matt; son, Russell Browder and wife Monique; her beloved grandchildren; and her sisters, Judy Gordon and husband Bernie, and JoAnn Seefeldt and husband Jack. She was preceded in death by her parents, James “J.B.” and Dot Burrell.

Jerry will be remembered as a nurse, missionary, teacher, encourager, intercessor, and faithful servant of Christ. She found “God moments” in every corner of life—from hospital rooms to mission fields, from everyday conversations to friendships with the Deaf community—and treasured it all as gifts wrapped in “silver boxes with silver bows.” Her legacy of love, joy, and faith will continue to bear fruit in all who were blessed to know her.

“The family invites you to celebrate Jerry by wearing a splash of red, her signature color."