Gerald Lee McGill, Sr.

Gerald Lee McGill, Sr., Age 95 of Novelty, Ohio,   passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Monday, May 27.   Jerry was born on May 11,1929 in East Cleveland to the late Grace (nee Pahner) and Thomas W. McGill.  Jerry grew up in a loving family, graduated from Shaw High School in 1948,  and Western Reserve College in 1952.   He was lifelong member of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity.  Jerry met the love of his life, Joanne Carran,  in high school and they were married on September 10, 1949. They were married for 69 years until Joanne passed in 2018.    He is survived by his three children, Gerald, Jr. (Margaret), Scott (Kathleen) and Janice Lightner (David).   His legacy includes his four grandsons, Jay McGill (Sara), Andy McGill (Megan), Chris Brickner (Jackie) and Preston Brickner (fiancé, Lauren Rosenberg), step-granddaughter Elyse Foote (Andrew) and great-grandchildren, Liam, Noah, Grace, Brooks, Cole, Louie and Cade; and step great-grandchildren Conrad and Townsend.   Survivors include  his two nieces, Cindy O’Neill and Leslie Smith and their families.   

He was a proud member of the 107th Ohio National Guard Regiment during the Korean War conflict.    Jerry was the owner of SP Mount Printing Company which is still owned by the family.  He was an avid fisherman, taking his sons and grandsons fishing to the Arctic Circle, Florida, and the Great Lakes.  He loved flying airplanes and earned a pilot’s license.  He also earned  a US Merchant Marine Captain's License and was licensed to pilot large cargo ships.  During his lifetime, he had several sporting dogs and always had a furry companion by his side. Jerry enjoyed gardening, and working out with a personal trainer.     He was a member of The General Society of Mayflower Descendants,  The Sons of the American Revolution (SAR),  The General Society War of 1812, and Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.  His sister, Doris McGill, predeceased him in 2021.  

The family will receive friends at Brown Forward Funeral Home, 17022 Chagrin Blvd., Shaker Hts., Ohio, on Thursday, May 30, 2024 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM.   Private Inurnment will be held at Lake View Cemetery, Cleveland.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Rescue Village,15463 Chillicothe Rd., Novelty, OH 44072.