Dr. Gerard Francis (Jerry) Shea, age 78, longtime resident of Ponca City, Oklahoma, passed away November 5, 2026, at Hillcrest Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
A rosary service will be held on Friday, November 20, 2026, at six o'clock in the evening in the Trout Funeral Home Chapel and a Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, November 21, 2026, at ten o'clock in the morning in St. Mary's Catholic Church with Rev. Alex Kroll officiating. Jerry will be laid to rest in the St. Mary's section of Odd Fellows Cemetery at a later time.
On January 26, 1948, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Gerard and Pauline Shea welcomed their son Jerry into this world. He grew up in Scranton and graduated from the University of Scranton. Jerry went on to earn his doctorate from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine. When he met Gail Sanders, Jerry was quickly convinced they were meant to be together and on July 10, 1981, they were united in marriage. He took pride in carefully caring for families as a family practitioner in Ponca City, Oklahoma for many years. Jerry also served in the Indian Health Service at White Eagle and Pawhuska. He loved to grill for family members, enticing them to come home for a steak. Jerry loved the water. He had a hot tub where family will always remember how much he loved having long conversations there, especially with his kids and grandkids. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and was a man devoted to faith, family and OU football.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Gerard and Pauline, and his brother, John Shea.
Jerry is survived by his wife, Gail, daughter, Tara Sledge, sons, Scott Combest, Jonathan Shea, and Ryan Shea, and grandchildren Isabella, Peter, Logan, Sophia, Jason, Elijah, Vivian, Joseph, Olivia, and Cassandra.