Jerry Keith Liles, 85, died Monday, April 25, 2016.
He was born in Wendell, NC on February 2, 1931 to Herman G. and Mary B. Liles. He attended school in Garner and graduated from Garner High School. Jerry attended the University of NC at Chapel Hill until joining the US Marine Corps in 1952. On June 1, 1952 he married his high school sweetheart, Ernestine Brafford, during his boot camp leave from Paris Island, SC.
After serving in the US Marines for two years where he spent six months in Japan during the Korean Conflict, he attended Kings Business School of Accounting. After his graduation he went to work as a bookkeeper for Rural Plumbing and Heating in April 1956 and retired as Chairman of the Board in January 2008. During his tenure with Rural, he built houses, developed housing projects in Raleigh and built five apartment projects in Wilmington, NC.
Jerry and Ernestine traveled many places in the world during their 63 years together. They traveled many countries in Europe as well as trips to Greece, China and Australia. Jerry was a longtime golfer and made one "hole in one" during his many years of playing. Playing a game of golf and cutting grass were the two activities that took away all his stress and he loved doing both. He was a long time member of Forest Hills Baptist Church where he served as Chairman of the Building Committee for many years.
He is survived by his wife, Ernestine B. Liles; son, Jeffrey Kent Liles and wife Mary Virginia Green Liles; daughter, Jeri Keith Liles; four grandchildren, Mary Brafford Liles, Virginia Kea Liles, Romeo Liles Schneider and Ezekiel Brafford Schneider; niece, Shelia Liles Churn and husband David; great nephews, Wesley Churn and Lile Grey Churn; brother, Charles G. Liles and wife Marian.
Funeral services will be held 11 am Thursday at Montlawn Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow at Montlawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 10-11 am on Thursday before the service.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.montlawn.com