Jerry O'Neal Ritchie of Shallowater, age 88, died Friday, January 26, 2024 in Amarillo. A funeral service is planned for 10:00 a.m., Friday, February 2nd at First Baptist Church in Quanah with Dr. Derrell Monday officiating. Interment will follow at Quanah Memorial Park Cemetery.

Jerry was born September 12, 1935 to the late Joseph Richard Ritchie and Cora Mayfield Ritchie. He married the love of his life, Romell Brown, December 21, 1956. They made their home in Shallowater, Texas for approximately 51 years, where they raised 3 children.

He was an auctioneer, master welder, and owned his own contracting sheet metal business. He also worked at Anderson & Bigham Sheet Metal, Doss Sheet Metal, Kimbell Gin, and retired from Texas Department of Transportation of Lubbock County in 1999. Jerry was a Master Mason of Machenzie No. 1327 Lodge, Lubbock, Texas.

After retirement he enjoyed repairing, designing, and engineering machinery for Venetian Marble in Lubbock. He was a kind, fun-loving, and talented man, known for his creative designs and welding skills. If you wanted something done right, you called Jerry! He loved jokes, playing card and dominoes, dancing, hunting, and making people laugh. He enjoyed watching football, westerns and rodeos.

He was a wise and awesome grandfather with lots of stories to tell and dearly loved his grandchildren. He was a hero to many, an astonishment to others. He was loved and respected by all. He lived and loved life to the fullest and never walked away from a challenge. There wasn't much this one-armed man could not do.

Survivors include 2 daughters, Susie Ritchie (Billy) of Quanah and Cathy Aulik (Joe) of Green Bay, Wisconsin; 5 grandsons, 1 granddaughter, 7 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, 2 sons, William Ray Ritchie and Jerry Allen Ritchie; 2 granddaughters, Maggie Ritchie and Amber Foster; 5 brothers, and 3 sisters.