Gerald ""Jerry"" Muirhead

Gerald (Jerry) Scott Muirhead, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and friend died peacefully at his home surrounded by his family after a nine year battle with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. Jerry was born in Greenville, Mississippi on August 4, 1931 to Henry C. and Lillian Muirhead. He attended E.E. Bass High School in Greenville, and received an Associate of Applied Sciences at Front Range Community College in Westminster. He established the Small Engines Program and taught at Front Range Community College, Arapahoe Community College, and SEMBC. He retired in 1992. He served in the Air Force as a jet mechanic in the Korean War., and spent time in Japan as well as Korea. His daughters, Kitsy, Ronda, and Tammy were precious blessings to him, and when he married Barbara and her daughters, Stephanie and Kendel, he was blessed two more times. He was a wonderful, devoted father and fiercely proud of his girls and their many accomplishments. And then came his wonderful grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He's always felt his greatest legacy was his loving family. Jerry married Barbara Gordon Kleeberg on June 25, 1972. He was her very best friend and soulmate. They especially enjoyed traveling and holiday and family gatherings. As a young boy, Jerry discovered he could take things apart easily, and as he got a little older, he found he could also rebuild them. Thus, began his love of all things that used motor oil - scooters, motorcycles, boats with outboard engines, airplanes, hot rods, and race cars, especially open-wheel race cars. He raced in all categories from time to time since he was 12 years old exceeding in many when he was a young man. He embraced life and all it offered. Besides his immediate family, he had a great love for his extended family and many friends as well as his little poodle dog, Gidget. He was a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association, Colorado Oval Vintage Racers, Denver Timing Association, and the Early Ford V-8 Club. He enjoyed many tours with the Early Ford V-8 Club in his 1950 Ford. He loved going to the midget races in Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska, especially the Chili Bowl in Tulsa, Oklahoma as well as the National Sprint Car Races in Knoxville, Iowa . Jerry was preceded in death by his first wife, Gay, and infant daughter, his parents, Crisler and Lillian Muirhead, his sister, Rose Evans and husband Ottis, nieces - Melanie and Kim, and nephew, Bill. He is survived by his wife, Barbara, of thirty six years. Daughters Kitsy (Rick) Sorensen, Ronda (Jim Buck) Moore, Tammy (Laddie) Hanus, Stephanie (Scott) Luethy, and Kendel Holdren. Brother H.C. (Buddy) Muirhead of Searcy, Arkansas. Grandchildren Lars, Luke, Leif, and Levi Sorensen, Alisha Peterson (Josh) , Lynnette Albrecht (Cory) Mandy Bellemare (Sonny), Susan Anderson, Cassie and Cameron Luethy, Courtney and Amber Holdren. Great-grandchildren Dalila, Kyle, and Emily Albrecht; Micaela, Jaithan and Gracyn Petersen, and Maggie Joy Sorensen. Many thanks to the love and kindness of the personnel of Hospice of St. John, and the exceptional care of Drs. Patricia Sato and Mark Ptaskiewicz. A celebration of Jerry's life will be held on Wednesday, May 13th at 11:00, visitation at 10:00, at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 3020 Federal Boulevard, Denver. A reception will be held at the Wheat Ridge Grange on 38th and High Ct. following the burial at Crown Hill Cemetery, 7777 W. 29th Avenue, Denver. You will have an opportunity to share stories and memories at that time.