Jerry Meadows

Jerry Meadows, of Paoli, Indiana, died Wednesday, October 22, 2014, at the University of Louisville Hospital of injuries sustained while working cattle at his farm in Paoli, Indiana. Born Jerry Wesley Meadows on October 15, 1933, he was the only child of Glen and Wanda Wolfe Meadows.  He grew up in Paoli, and graduated from Paoli High School in 1952.  During summers of his high school years, Jerry attended Culver Military Academy in Culver, Indiana.  Jerry attended Indiana University, where he was a member of the freshman basketball team and the IU chapter of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity.  At IU, Jerry met Mary Dorothy McDonald, of Washington Court House, Ohio, on a blind date.  “Mimi,” as Mary is known, would later become Jerry’s wife of 60 years. Upon his father’s death in 1953, Jerry left IU to return to Paoli to take over his father’s business, Calcar Quarries, Inc.  Jerry successfully ran Calcar for 55 years.  During this period, Jerry operated stone and sand businesses in Salem and Princeton, Indiana, in addition to Calcar, and acquired a farm located east of Paoli, where he raised cattle, corn, and soybeans.  Upon selling Calcar in 2008, Jerry founded Meadowview, Inc., through which he continued his farming operations.  In 2009, Jerry was appointed to fill a vacant seat on the Paoli Town Council.  In 2012, he was elected to continue in that seat, and did so until his death.  He was a member of the Paoli United Methodist Church and Our Lord Jesus Christ the King Catholic Church. Jerry and his wife Mimi raised five children in Paoli: Karen Meadows Bowman, who preceded Jerry in death in 2003, Gail Meadows Coble of Paoli, Susan Meadows Byerley of Hardinsburg, David Meadows of Paoli, and Joseph Meadows of Colchester, Vermont.  Additionally, Jerry and Mimi are the grandparents of seven and the great-grandparents of five, including one still on the way. On the morning of October 21, 2014, Jerry and several others began the yearly chore of separating calves from their mother cows.  During the activities, Jerry suffered a fatal injury to his head.  As his consciousness faded, Jerry’s co-workers rendered first aid, and Paoli first responders prepared him for medical evacuation.   He later died peacefully at the University of Louisville Hospital, surrounded by loving and adoring family members. Jerry’s last day was like all of his others over the course of 81 years – He worked hard for the sake of those he loved.  He loved his family, including his extended family of his many faithful employees, co-workers, and longtime business associates.  He loved his hometown.  He loved the simple pleasures of working in the yard, reading the newspaper, and watching sports.  He lived a good life and died a good death.  Always planning for tomorrow, he left behind a long list of things to accomplish and many people who will miss him dearly. In lieu of flowers, Jerry would want remembrances in the form of donations to charities that benefit the needs of the Paoli community: Backpack for Blessings, 112 W Water St, Paoli, IN or Orange County Clothe-a-child, 205 E Main St, Suite 5, Paoli, IN 47454. Visitation will be held from 1:00 – 8:00 pm Sunday, October 26, 2014 at Dillman-Scott Funeral Home, 226 West Campbell St, Paoli, IN, with a Rosary service to be held at 7:45 pm.  The funeral service will be held Monday, October 27, 2014 at Christ the King Catholic Church, Hwy 150 E, Paoli, IN, with interment following at the Paoli Community Cemetery, Paoli, IN.