Gerald E. (Jerry) Schleiff

Gerald E. (Jerry) Schleiff, a faithful servant of His Lord and Savior, went to his heavenly home on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015 at the age of 79. He is survived by his much loved wife of 56 years, Barbara Robertson Schleiff; children, Mark and Angie Schleiff, Kiki and Doug Cherry and Tim and Sherry Hayes; grandchildren, Jessica and Chris Qualls, Ben Schleiff, Anna Cherry, Emily Schleiff, Joshua Cherry, Susanna Schleiff and Patrick Hayes; one sister, Frances Ison; several nieces and nephews and a host of missionary kids and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Abbie (Travis) Schleiff; brother, Charles Wendall Schleiff; sisters, Evelyn Wilson, Eleanor Hill, Doris Anderson and Katie Kindy and a lifelong friend and nephew, John "Jackie" Vaughn. Jerry was born Nov. 25, 1935 in Ft. Smith, Ark. and was raised in nearby Charleston. He graduated from Charleston High School, Ouachita Baptist University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. After college he taught school in Hackett, Ark. and pastured churches in Arkansas and Texas. He and Barbara served with the International Mission Board in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and Central/Southern Asia for 34 years. They retired in Arkadelphia, Ark. and for the last 15 years have opened their home to missionary kids and other students attending Ouachita Baptist and Henderson State Universities. His desire throughout life has been to serve his Lord faithfully and to complete well the course he was given to run. ( 2 Timothy 4:7-8) Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Sunday at Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home in Arkadelphia. Memorial services will be 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 16 at Park Hill Baptist Church in Arkadelphia. Memorials may be made to the Park Hill Baptist Church Mission Fund, 3333 Hollywood Rd. Arkadelphia, AR 71923 or to Ouachita Baptist University for the Schleiff Missionary Kids Fund, 410 Ouachita St. Arkadelphia, AR 71998 or to the International Mission Board, P. O. Box 6767 Richmond, VA 23230. Online guest register is available at www.ruggleswilcox.com.