James "Jerry" Curry

James “Jerry” Curry, 87, of Camillus, passed away December 24, 2019. A lifetime resident of Syracuse, he was a 1950 graduate of CBA where he was captain of the baseball team. He joined the US Airforce in 1953 and played on several Airforce baseball and softball teams in Alaska, Syracuse and Mississippi while serving the country.

Jerry earned a bachelor’s degree from Niagara University and graduated Cum Laude in 1960. He worked for Procter and Gamble from 1960 to 1962. In 1962 he began a 40-year career as the Scotts Lawn Pro with OM Scotts & Sons working with businesses across upstate New York and northern Pennsylvania. He retired in 2002 but never stopped working and, on weekends in the spring, you’d find him advising customers about how to nurture their lawns at Chuck Hafner’s.

Jerry was a communicant of St. Joseph’s Church in Camillus and ushered every week for nearly 57 years. He was a volunteer baseball and football coach for the West Genesee Athletic Association as well as a volunteer at the Camillus Ski Association. He was part of the Camillus Memorial Day Parade directing team for many years.

Jerry was the unofficial Mayor of Orchard Village. When he wasn’t puttering in the yard, you’d find him in his lawn chair in the driveway or side yard, soaking up the rays, greeting walkers and joggers, waving to drivers that honked their horns as they drove by, and talking with the many friends and family who’d stop by to visit. He was an avid New York Yankees fan and Buffalo Bills fan, rarely missing any games that were televised and had a small TV in the garage so he wouldn’t miss a game when it was “driveway weather.”

Jerry was predeceased by his wife, Joyce; parents, Leroy and Jane (Hennessey) Curry; and brother, Tom.

Jerry is survived by his daughter, Joanne Humphrey; son, Jim; brother, George (Bud) Curry, all of Camillus; grandchildren, Jamie (Alex) Abdo, Christie (Dan) Bernardi, Meagan and Hannah Humphrey; great-granddaughters, Olivia, Emma and Bella; brothers-in-law, J. Edward Mahoney of Marcellus and Clem Morgillo of Camillus; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Jerry’s family would like to express their gratitude to #teamjerry. All the wonderful neighborhood friends, caregivers and administrative staff in the KB unit and front desk staff at St. Camillus, Crouse Health, Dr. Farrell and the Westside Podiatry staff, Alicia Harrington and Organ Genesis and Dr. Joseph Barry at Signature MD, who worked tirelessly to heal and nurture as well as lift Jerry’s spirits and help and comfort him and the family. We are forever in your debt and will never forget your kindness, dedication, skillsets and compassion.

Jerry is with our Joyce now watching over all of us.

Relatives and friends may call Saturday, January 4 from 10 to 11 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Church, 5600 W. Genesee St., Camillus, NY 13031.

A funeral Mass will follow at 11 a.m. in the church. Burial for Jerry and his wife, Joyce, will be private in Greenlawn Cemetery, Warners.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to, St. Joseph's Church Capital Improvement Fund.