Jerry "Goggie" Lee Bumgardner

Jerry Lee Bumgardner was born October 20, 1938 to William Carl Bumgardner and Anna Neal Hicks Bumgardner. On September 14, 1957 he married the love of his life, Barbara Jean Gordon, whom he lovingly called Sparkey.He was the best husband, dad, grandfather and great grandfather ever. Jerry loved spending time with friends and family, especially the children. He enjoyed old cars and country music. Jerry is survived by his wife Barbara; daughters, Debbie Hedrick and husband Timmy, Lori Gibson and husband Gregg; grandchildren, Jonathan Hedrick and wife Stephanie, Jeremy Hedrick and wife Jordan, Ashley Gibson Smith and husband Ben; great grandchildren, Kirsten, Kyleigh Hedrick, Matlyn, Ryan Coy Hedrick, and Lily Wren Smith; brother, Roger Bumgardner and wife Judy; sister-in-laws, Clara Sue Bumgardner, Edith Lambeth and husband Wayne; brother-in-law, Jerry Gordon and wife Patty; numerous nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Life will be held Monday, December 14, 2020 at Rich Fork Baptist Church. The family will receive friends and family from 11 am - 12 pm, with the service, officiated by Pastors Michael Bowers and Lee Hedrick, to begin at 12, burial to follow at Holly Hill Memorial Park Cemetery. Family has requested in lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Rich Fork Baptist Church, 3993 Old US Hwy 29, Thomasville, NC 27360. COVID 19 restrictions will apply. The family writes: Goggiewas a good man. He set the standard for what a good person should be, and his family often looked to him as an example of virtue, grace, compassion, and kindness. He loved his wife, Barbara, with a love that was more than love. She was his soulmate and it was evident in every action he took. As soon as you entered their home, you could feel their love for each other,it was so strong that it spilled out onto whoever entered their door. As his family, we need not look to silly romance novels or movies, because the perfect example of it existed right in front of us,its real and unchanging, and its something that lives on in all of our hearts. He gave us peace and gentleness. Hetook everything in stride and just being in his presence was calming,from a screaming cry to a slow, calm breath: he had that effect. The perfect shoulder to lean on if you were upset; hed sit with you in comfortable silence. He didnt even have to utter a word, but if he did, those words held weight and put even the most anxious heart at ease.He loved playing his guitar but he himself was music. His loving silence was music;his hugs and his words and his concern for everyone elses wellbeing was music. He was a stringed instrument tune that you could curl up and safely fall asleep to. Youd wake up with a clear mind and a full heart. He was our home. Every holiday was marked by the afternoons and evenings spent with himquietly observing everyone with a smile: this was his paradise and we are so happy he got to see his grand babies and great grand babies all play together. He poured his love onto his family. He even poured his love onto those that werent his family by blood, accepting everyone with open arms and an open heart. He had many children and grandchildren because he deemed them so. He made so many people feel loved and accepted. His first grandson, Jonathan, coined the term Goggie, but he was EVERYONES Goggie, and he wouldnt have wanted it any other way.