A devoted follower of Christ, Jerry’s passing on his wife’s 85th birthday was considered a birthday gift to her that he is out of pain and with his Jesus.

Jerry is survived by his cherished wife of 66 years, Polly Mae Hagee. Together, they built a legacy of love and faith, raising three daughters: Wendy Southard and her husband, J.C., Lori Warren and her husband, Jim, and Kathy Rudkin and her husband, Kurt.

Jerry was a proud and loving grandfather to five grandsons, Joshua (Nicki) Lawson, Zachary (Megan) Lawson, Michael (April) Shields, Jeremey Dwight (Brittany) Shields, and Jesse Beaux Rudkin; two granddaughters, Emma Faye Rudkin and Brittany Southard; and great-grandchildren Colton, Cooper, Addyli and Ellie Mae Lawson, Oliver Dwight, Soran and Vivianne Lawson, and Lilah Beth Shields.

Survivors also include Ashley and Stephen Manning, Brandon Southard and his son, Hunter; Clinton and Katie Southard, and Austin and Michelle Southard with their three children. Jerry has many nieces and nephews who he loves deeply.

He is also survived by two loving sisters, Patty Robison and Ina Sue Osborne. He is preceded in death by his sister, Janie Brown, and his parents, Dwight and Antoinette Hagee.

A life rooted in faith and accomplishment, Jerry was born on Oct. 28, 1937. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in marketing and was proud to serve in the university’s Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), where he prepared for a future of leadership and service.

At just 26 years old, he opened Hagee Discount Foods, which became the largest discount supermarket

Gerald “Jerry” Dwight Hagee

Oct. 28, 1937 Dec. 22, 2024

chain in Oklahoma. He later expanded his entrepreneurial success with Big 10 Warehouse, solidifying his reputation as a visionary business leader.

During that time he was the director and officer of the Oklahoma Retail Grocers Association and served as legislative spokesman on the board of the National Association of Retail Grocers of the United States.

By the age of 36, Jerry sold the businesses and retired, embarking on an extraordinary career of faith-driven entrepreneurship and service.

Jerry was actively involved in numerous community organizations, serving on the boards of Baptist Hospital in Oklahoma City, the Cerebral Palsy Foundation, the Boy Scouts of America, and Kiwanis, where he was honored as Kiwanian of the Year. He was also the recipient of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Voice of Democracy Award.

Jerry became the president of the Christian Freedom Foundation in Washington, D.C., promoting religious freedom and faith-based principles. He then created Arbuckle Wilderness in 1978, the largest privately owned tourist attraction in Oklahoma, which he sold in 1991.

Following this chapter, Jerry moved to Boerne, Texas, where he founded Follow the Star, a Christmas drive-through experience that became a beloved holiday tradition for many families for seven years.

During this time, Jerry also continued his entrepreneurial ventures, developing shopping centers and laundromats in Boerne and Victoria, Texas, further showcasing his visionary spirit and business expertise.

In the mid-1980s, Jerry and his best friend acquired Cottonwood Cove Guest Ranch, located along the Rio Grande River in Creede, Colorado. As a young boy, Jerry visited the resort yearly with his father and uncles, and he continued the tradition by bringing his own family there every year.

An avid and skilled fly fisherman, Jerry found the ranch to be more than just a business; it was his personal sanctuary, a place to escape and immerse himself in the beauty of nature.

In addition to his business endeavors, Jerry was a sought-after speaker and author of the book, “Who Did You Say That I Am?”

He served as an ordained deacon, lay witness leader, lay evangelist, interim pastor and Bible teacher for more than 50 years. His appearances on platforms such as the 700 Club and his work with small and large groups reflected his deep commitment to spreading the gospel and empowering others to live abundant lives.

Jerry proudly served in the United States Army as an infantry officer and Division Headquarters Company Commander followed by U.S. Army Reserves. His dedication to his country mirrored his devotion to faith and family.

A celebration of Jerry’s life will take place in San Antonio from 3-5 p.m. Jan. 4 at the Dominion Country Club as a casual come-and-go gathering to honor his memory. A second celebration will be held in Oklahoma City Jan. 11, with the location and time to be announced.

The family warmly invites all who knew Jerry to attend and share their memories and stories of him. Both events will provide an opportunity to reflect on a life well-lived and a faith steadfastly kept.

Visitation will be held from 10 a.m.-noon on Dec. 30 at Sunset North Funeral Home, 910 N. Loop 1604 East, San Antonio. Graveside will be immediate family and friends only.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to Aid the Silent, a nonprofit organization founded by Jerry’s granddaughter, Emma Faye, who is deaf. The organization is dedicated to supporting deaf children and their families.

Jerry Dwight Hagee’s life was a shining example of devotion to God, family and community. His unwavering faith, visionary leadership and loving heart will forever be remembered by all who knew him.