Jerry Dean Hearth

song

Welcome & Prayer

On behalf of the family, I’d like to welcome you to the memorial service for JD.

It is a so encouraging to see so many friends and family here to support each other

Today is a hard day, but your love for JD and your love for each other is evident

The truth is that in some ways today is an unwelcomed guest in our life

As much as we wish it wasn’t true, life includes sorrow and grief

In a few minutes we will share some good memories of JD - these memories are God’s grace to you in your grief

Hold on to these memories and be thankful for them

Before we do that, I want you to know that grieving isn’t a sign of weakness

Grieving is an honest and biblical response to suffering and tragedy

So, I encourage you to laugh together today and remember good times

But I also encourage you to grieve together and learn to build your life on the truth of Scripture

When the waves of life threaten to overwhelm you, know that truth is like a giant anchor for your soul

Psalm 9 KJV 1900

9 The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, A refuge in times of trouble. 10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: For thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

Psalm 9 KJV 1900

1 I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works. 2 I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.

Prayer

Dear God, I am so thankful that you hear the voice of the oppressed. This life is full of enemies and the greatest enemy we face is death itself, but you are just and you deliver the broken hearted. You know your children and you do not forsake them.

You are the way the truth and the life so remind us that your ultimate plan is redemption and restoration. You have promised to make all things new and we believe that you will. Though we mourn, we know that eternal life is provided through Christ.

Song

Obituary

Jerry Dean Hearth, Jr., 59, of Bedford, passed away on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at University of Louisville Hospital.

Born June 22, 1966, in Bloomington, he was the son of Jerry Dean Hearth, Sr. and Doretta Gregory. Jerry was a plumber and roofer at Steve’s Roofing and G.S. Courtyard. He was a member of the Eagles in Bloomington and the Indian Creek Volunteer Fire Department.

He is survived by his fiancé, Kara Helms-Cazee of Bedford, and her daughter Tawni Grubb of Greenwood; his mother, Doretta Gregory, of Kirksville; sister Carmen Jones; stepchildren, Amber (Brad) Borders of Spencer, Amanda Dishman, Ami Lane, and Daniel Lane, all of Bloomington; two grandchildren, Abby Prince, and Athena Poling. He was preceded in death by his father, a sister Brenda, stepdaughter Amanda Roper, and a grandson Gavin Harper.

Eulogy and Tributes

At this time, Sarah is going to come and share some memories of JD.

Message

As I talked with some family and friends last night, several things were very clear.

-It sounds to me like JD “wasn’t afraid to say what he was thinking.”

-Maybe that’s news to you and you have no idea what I’m talking about

-But something tells me you’ve had the blessing of hearing his thoughts on an occasion or two.

-One family member stated the blessing in that was his honesty - you always knew he was being truthful

-Several people also told me he was quite charismatic and had the unique ability to be in the middle of a group and keep things interesting

-A coworker said that this was often a blessing because if you weren’t having a good day, he always had a way to encourage and brighten your day

-What’s interesting about this trait is that the same people told me that JD had had some difficult moments in his life

-I can’t help but think about the legacy he has left behind of walking through trials himself yet being able to encourage and put a smile on the faces of those around him.

-One person said JD was relentless - he always moved forward despite the circumstances that he faced.

-Not everyone can be said to be relentless.

-In fact, it is a common trait in our culture now to find the easiest path of least resistance

-When I first read the obituary, I saw that JD did plumbing and roofing

-Now I don’t do either of those, but I know they are quite different from each other.

-To be able to work in either of those at any given time not only demonstrates relentlessness, it also demonstrates adaptability and flexibility

-The last word that I want to use to honor JD is the word “amazing.”

-Sometimes in life we don’t stop to take note of what’s really true.

-We go from day to day and get quite distracted with what’s right in front of us

-But moments like today help us to pause and consider what we may have taken for granted

-It gives us reason to be thankful, and it gives us reason to remember the good things God has given us along the way

Read Amber’s Eulogy

-At this time, I’d like to read something Amber has written in memory of her dad.

“Today, we gather to remember my dad, a man who meant so much to so many people, but especially to me. My dad was an amazing father. No matter what was going on in life, he was always there for me. Through the good days and the hard ones, I always knew I could count on him. His love was steady, dependable, and unconditional, and that is a gift I will carry with me forever. Some of my favorite memories with him are the simple ones like going to the races tracks with his little blue nova that he loved, camping together, sitting around a fire, laughing, telling stories, and enjoying the peace of being outdoors. He loved camping because it gave him a chance to be with the people he loved most. Those moments may have seemed ordinary at the time, but now I realize they were some of the most meaningful memories of my life. He also loved playing horseshoes. It wasn’t just about the game — it was about the laughter, the competition, and the time spent together. He had a way of making people feel welcome and comfortable, and somehow even the smallest moments became special when he was around. What I will remember most about my dad is the kind of person he was: caring, dependable, hardworking, and full of love for his family. He taught me by example how to show up for the people you love, how to work hard, and how to appreciate the simple joys in life. Losing him leaves a space that can never truly be filled, but I am grateful for every memory, every lesson, and every moment we shared. I will carry him with me in everything I do. Dad, thank you for being there for me, for loving me, and for giving me memories I will treasure forever. I love you, and I will miss you every day. Rest In peace Dad!”

Memories are such a blessing.

-I would encourage you to spend time today to laugh with each other.

-Remember the good times you have had together and the good times yet to come.

-But I also want to offer you some encouragement will help you weather the greatest storm life can throw your way.

-Death is hard and your will grieve, but because of Christ, grieving is not the end of the story.

-Sorrow doesn’t need to have the final word in your life...it doesn’t have to define you...

-And hope more than a hope...hope can characterize your life...

One of the most known and loved passages in the Bible is Psalm 23

Psalm 23 is so well known and loved because:

It doesn’t ignore the difficulties of life. It speaks openly and bluntly about one of our greatest fears - namely, death.

This Psalm is also loved because It offers legitimate hope. It’s not filled with empty promises . Yes, even in the context of death, Psalm 23 provides us with an a pathway through our suffering.

I would like to read this short Psalm and make three short observations that I believe will encourage your heart and bring hope into your suffering.

Psalm 23

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

1. The first observation is that the Lord is a personal shepherd - “the Lord is my shepherd”

David was a shepherd himself and he understood that sheep weren’t OK on their own.

But David didn’t just have sheep...

He loved them and he was with them

He led them to food and water

He provided them what they needed, when they needed it

David was using this example to help us understand an extraordinary truth about God.

God is personal (He’s not a distant force standing far away from us)

God has sheep (He’s not unconcerned and He’s not indifferent to our suffering)

And God is commited to His sheep (there is nothing-including death-that would even cause God to be uninvolved in the lives of His people)

John 10:14 Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me,”

The beauty of this truth is that the foundation of our hope is not in something good that might happen in our future.

The foundation of our hope begins with a relationship with Someone who is committed to His people and able to do the impossible.

Knowing Christ in this way doesn’t happen accidentally, and it doesn’t happen automatically.

We come to know Christ when we hear His life-giving words and we embrace them for ourself.

Though I just met many of you for the first time yesterday, I want to tell you the very same thing I tell my church family.

The good news (and the foundation of real hope) is that you can personally receive Christ and He can be your Shephard - even today!

2. Second, the comfort this Psalm brings is knowing that God is always present with his sheep - even through death.

One of the most well known parts of this Psalm is verse 4, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me

There’s something unique about this verse.

How in the world can David say that looking death in the face doesn’t bring fear?

This is the simplest, but probably the most profound truth of the Bible...

The reason David doesn’t fear death is because his Shephard is with him.

The imagery of this verse is so powerful.

It pictures us on a road - the road of life.

A road that is getting deeper and deeper into the valley of death.

The further we get down this road of life, the greater the shadow of the valley becomes.

And there’s nothing we can do to escape this reality.

EXAMPLE

When I was 10 years old, my friend and I rode our bikes into a pretty big forest in Western PA

After about 40 minutes of riding on off-roading trails, we realized we were lost.

We were both quite scared, but there was a mild comfort to know we weren’t alone:

I wasn’t lost. We were lost. (It felt different)

David isn’t saying he had hope simply because he had a companion with him

David didn’t fear death and David hope because of Who his Companion Was

Again, John 10:14 is so helpful. It reminds us that the great shepherd of our soul … Who is personal and present with us is Jesus Christ.

Time doesn’t allow us to consider in detail every truth about Christ, but I’ve picked a few that make all the difference in the world

Jesus is all powerful - He created the universe

Jesus is the Son of God - God in the flesh with us

Jesus was sinless but crucified on a cross - He died

Jesus rose from the dead - decisively defeated death

Of all the things I could say today, the best thing I can tell you is that Jesus conquered the grave.

This is why he can be present with us today...

This is why it’s possible that he can walk with his sheep through the valley of the shadow of death.

Because He has walked this road ahead of you and provided a way through the grave to eternal life.

1 Corinthians 15:3–6 KJV 1900

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Friends, Jesus truly defeated death so that we could have eternal life.

1 Corinthians 15:56–57 KJV 1900

56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

3. Finally, there is eternity on the other side of the grave.

The last verse of Psalm 23:6

Psalm 23:6 KJV 1900

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

David knew that death wasn’t the end.

He knew that since God was personal and present, the grave couldn’t have the final word.

And though he walked the valley of death, he saw eternity beyond the shadow and he knew the only one who could provide him this hope was God.

Psalm 23 helps us understand that we are dependent on the Jesus Christ for this hope.

There are three things I know today:

You’re here because you love each other and you love JD

We’re all made of the same stuff and we all in the valley of the shadow of death

If you hear the life-giving words of Christ, you can put your faith in Him and become one of His sheep if you aren’t one already

The good news of the Gospel is that Christ has done for us what we cannot do for ourselves.

We don’t need to earn our place in God’s flock

We don’t need to prove ourselves to God

We don’t need to clean ourselves up so that we fit in with the sheep

Everlasting life is not something we can achieve...

it is something Christ has achieved for us

And it is something we receive it by faith...

Matthew 11:28 ESV

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Romans 5:6–15 ESV

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

John 3:16 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

This is the hope that David had - this is the hope you can have today through Christ.

Prayer

Dear God,

Your word gives us so much hope. I pray that you would comfort this family in their time of need and suffering. We praise you for what you have done to conquer death and we praise you for the promise of eternal life in Christ. Our hearts are heavy, but you give rest in your word so help us to lean in to your word and learn to listen - give us faith to understand and follow you.

Encourage this family today. I pray their time together is sweet and uplifting.

SONG?

Graveside

Committal

1 Corinthians 15:54–57 KJV 1900

Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

When Jesus was on the cross, one of the thieves next to him turned to him in faith. So important because in that moment...

1) he couldn’t do anything to clean up his life (he was hanging on a cross - moments from death)

2) he couldn’t do any good works to gain God’s grace, yet he received the grace of God.

And Jesus said to him, “today, you will be with me in paradise.”

What a glorious truth! What hope that gives us! And though we are grieving, what rejoicing it gives us in the middle of our grief.

What we are doing here is two-fold:

1. We are committing JD’s soul to the LORD – it’s hard for us to say goodbye, so we are reminding ourselves that this is out of our hands. Life has a hard way of teaching us that we’re not always in control.

So we are here, as friends and family, entrusting JD’s soul to the Lord.

Psalm 46:1–3 ESV

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

Psalm 46:4–5 ESV

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.

Jesus promises eternal life for his children - in fact He said to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

-So even in a time like this, we can build on our the promises of God.

-As hard as this is, it is a reminder that we need Christ in our life.

2. We are anticipating Jesus’ return.

When Jesus rose again, he promised to be the first among many to be brought out of the grave and given a resurrection body. Paul uses the analogy of a seed. When you put a seed in the ground, it’s not doing anything - it’s lifeless, BUT after you put it in the ground, God gives life and it stays in the ground no more.

1 Corinthians 15:20–26 ESV

20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

Friends, we are here in anticipation of the great promise we have from God that He gives resurrection life.

Death hurts, but death doesn’t have the final word.

1 Corinthians 15:54–57 ESV

54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

In just a moment I will pray and conclude this service, but I want you to know that I am thankful you have allowed me to minister to you and I am available if I can serve you in any way.

Prayer

I praise you today for being the God of hope and comfort. I pray that you would bring rest to this family today. Encourage them and remind them of your mercy, love, and presence. Thank you for the hope we can have in Christ, and I pray that everyone knows Christ in this way.

Unto Your mercy Almighty God, we commit JD’s soul, and we lay his body in the ground in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord.