Gerald Hallmark
January 13, 1943 — May 21, 2021
Aransas Pass
Gerald Dean (“Jerry”) Hallmark passed peacefully on May 21, 2021.
Jerry believed in living life to its absolute fullest, and he managed to live so fully in his 78 years, that there just didn’t seem to be much left to do.
Jerry was born in Corpus Christi on January 13, 1943, as the baby of the family, with 4 older siblings. He grew up with music in his blood - and learned music at an early age from his father, Delbert. He recalled evenings with his father and friends “picking” the banjo at age 8, while he and another boy would be “sitting over in the corner trying to keep up with the old folks.”
He played the bass during his years at Mary Carroll High School, but dreamed of becoming the lead guitarist - and he achieved that dream, later being inducted to the Country Music Association of Texas Hall of Fame in February 2014. After high school, he served in the Army for three and a half years, and upon returning in 1965, he began his career in Civil Service and started playing a Sunday matinee at the Western Palms, filling in for the guitarist or bassist when they needed a break. He later played with the Blue Diamonds (1969), the Bob & Barbara Clawson band (1970s-80s), the Darrin Brown Band (1980s), the Deep Water Band (late 1990s), the Swamp Fever Band (early 2000s), and the Jason Suthern Band (2010s). He was also known to fill in anytime his services and talents were requested!
He never met a stranger, and was known to always lend a helping hand whenever it was needed. He was a master tinkerer, and fixer of all things. He loved his “big boy toys” - motorcycle, sports car, catamaran, RV, sailboat… He loved road trips, and traveling with his wife Betty Ann. If you asked him where we were going (especially when the girls were young), he’d tell you “we’re going crazy.”
He loved a good adventure - his 37 year career with the Army (as a helicopter mechanic) took him to Germany, and Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm. After retiring in 1999, he enjoyed taking long sailing trips with his best buddy, John Bunton. They celebrated Carnaval in Belize in February 2001, with their sailboat anchored offshore for 3 weeks, while they fished and drank beer, and other things he didn’t write home about.
In his latter years he unfortunately had several health issues and circumstances that affected his ability to enjoy his hobbies and passions like playing music. However, he continued to move his hands like he was playing the guitar even on his death bed. He never lost his happy, go lucky attitude and was fondly known as "Mr. Smiley" by all who met and cared for him in his final months.
. He grew up with music in his blood - and learned music at an early age from his father, Delbert. He recalled evenings with his father and friends “picking” the banjo at age 8, while he and another boy would be “sitting over in the corner trying to keep up with the old folks.”
He played the bass during his years at Mary Carroll High School, but dreamed of becoming the lead guitarist - and he achieved that dream, later being inducted to the Country Music Association of Texas Hall of Fame in February 2014. After high school, he served in the Army for three and a half years, and upon returning in 1965, he began his career in Civil Service and started playing a Sunday matinee at the Western Palms, filling in for the guitarist or bassist when they needed a break. He later played with the Blue Diamonds (1969), the Bob & Barbara Clawson band (1970s-80s), the Darrin Brown Band (1980s), the Deep Water Band (late 1990s), the Swamp Fever Band (early 2000s), and the Jason Suthern Band (2010s). He was also known to fill in anytime his services and talents were requested!
He never met a stranger, and was known to always lend a helping hand whenever it was needed. He was a master tinkerer, and fixer of all things. He loved his “big boy toys” - motorcycle, sports car, catamaran, RV, sailboat… He loved road trips, and traveling with his wife Betty Ann. If you asked him where we were going (especially when the girls were young), he’d tell you “we’re going crazy.”
He loved a good adventure - his 37 year career with the Army (as a helicopter mechanic) took him to Germany, and Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm. After retiring in 1999, he enjoyed taking long sailing trips with his best buddy, John Bunton.
They celebrated Carnaval in Belize in February 2001, with their sailboat anchored offshore for 3 weeks,
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