Gerald Hoyt

Master Chief (Retired) Gerald “Jerry” Leroy Hoyt, 87, of Pensacola. Gerald went on his last cruise on Monday, September 26, 2016. Jerry was born July 19, 1929, the first of ten children, to the late Roy and Nada Hoyt. He attended Fort Fairfield High School. He served in the US Navy for 27 yrs. He was retired from Don Dawson Jeep where he was General Manager for several years. During his military career he served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He served on his beloved USS Kitty Hawk and is a proud plank owner. During his career he received the following medals: Good Conduct , Korean Service, China Service, 2nd Good Conduct, Occupational Medal/Europe, United Nations, China Service Medal Extended, Navy Occupational, National Defense Service Medal Bronze Star and Vietnam Service Award with Bronze Star (2 tours). He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Myra Nichols Hoyt; sister, Joan, and brother- in- law, Dale Condon. He is survived by his daughter, Geraldine “Gerrie” (Roger Jensen) Hoyt; siblings, Richard, Robert (Diane), Ethlyn (Don) Ulkus, Harold (Jeanette), Floyd (Betty), Ronald (Sharon), Holland (Kathleen) and Patricia (Clemens) Gogulski; step-children, Steven (Joyce) Nichols, Allen (Judie) Nichols, and Anita (Tom) Brown. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Tami (Rusty) Oglesby, Troy (Jessica) Nichols, Kellie (Luke) Biddulph, Kyle (Jessica) Nichols, and Taylor (Ronnie Heckman) Jensen; great-grandchildren, David, Austin and Christian Oglesby, Cash and Jaxton Nichols, and Raylynn Heckman; a very special companion and his best friend, Peggy Destafney, and her family; and a special adopted son, daughter and grandson, Blevin, Angie & Dalton Davis. Funeral Services will be held at 4:00 p.m., Sunday, October 2, 2016, at Lewis Funeral Home, Pace Chapel (4777 W. Spencerfield Road, Pace, FL 32571). Visitation will be held 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., prior to the service. Burial will be held at 11:45 a.m., Monday, October 3, 2016, with full military honors, at Barrancas National Cemetery, aboard Pensacola Naval Air Station, with Lewis Funeral Home directing. Check in through the main gate. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to www.phoenixrisingrescue.com; or Emerald Coast Hospice, (5536 Stewart St, Milton, FL 32570; 850-995-4664).