Gerald E. "Jerry" Sayers, age 68, of Sunbury died early Wednesday morning, November 16, 2016 at his residence after a courageous battle with small cell cancer.

He was born on November 6, 1948 in Columbus, Ohio at the old White Cross Hospital (Riverside Methodist Hospital) the daughter of Alfred M. and Jean (Huber) Sayers.

Jerry was a graduate of Reynoldsburg High school in the class of 1967. Shortly after graduation he was inducted into the United States Navy. He served on the USS Sanctuary, a Haven-class hospital ship, during the Vietnam War.

After his honorable discharge, he began work at The Ohio State University Hospital as a Nursing Assistant. While working at OSU he developed a special relationship with a fellow coworker. That student nurse, Anita Smith, eventually became his fiancé and they were married at the Presbyterian Church in Sharonville, Ohio on November 20, 1971.

The same year he and Anita were married, Jerry became a Police Officer for the City of Columbus. During his 33-year tenure, he worked four jobs, but his last before retirement in 2004, was his favorite. He was a Firearms instructor at the Police Academy.

Jerry loved going fishing on his boat on Alum Creek and was a huge fan of history, especially military history. He'd read anything he could get his hands on in regards to that specific topic.

When describing him, his family used words like, "pensive", "stoic", and "serious". They told a story of his coworkers claiming if you could get Jerry to smile it was a special day. But, behind the seriousness lay a loving, kind, and gentle soul with blue eyes that spoke of quiet intelligence and wisdom.

He will be missed by his wife Anita; their children Erin Patricia Griffith and her husband Eric of Tipp City, Ohio and Alfred James "A.J." Sayers of Columbus; grandchildren Abigail and William Griffith; his mother Jean Sayers of Irmo, South Carolina; sister Linda Antill and her husband Jim of Irmo, South Carolina; and brother Cary Sayers and his wife Carolyn of Chillicothe, Ohio.

He was preceded in death by his father, Alfred.

Jerry belonged the VFW Post # 8736 in Sunbury.

A private family gathering to celebrate his life will take place at a later date.

If desired, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Central Ohio at [\"https://foundationforhoco.org/donate-now/\"]https://foundationforhoco.org/donate-now/

The DeVore-Snyder Funeral Home of Sunbury is honored to serve Mr. Sayers family. Special memories and condolences can be shared with them at [\"http://www.snyderfuneralhomes.com\"]www.snyderfuneralhomes.com