Jerry Joan Cunningham

Jerry Joan Cunningham, age 91, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Friday, January 27, 2023 at The Carillon at Belleview Station in Denver Colorado. She was born on October 28, 1931, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Earl and Lois (Miller) Huhn and moved to Calgary when she was 16. After high school, she attended Montana University in Missoula where she was a Fine Arts major and was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. While there, she met the love of her life, Scott Alan Cunningham, and they were married on April 3, 1954, in Calgary, Canada. They have been married for 68 years.

After graduation, Scott was commissioned as an ensign in the US Navy and they moved to the Norfolk Virginia naval base where she began teaching school and working as a social worker and a draftsman. After Scott completed his armed services commitment, Jerry and Scott moved to Calgary, Texas, back to Calgary and ultimately Denver, in support of Scott’s position as a geologist in the oil and gas industry. Jerry resided in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado for 50 years and spent her winters in La Quinta California. In Denver, Jerry was a member of the The Junior League and Sustainers Group. She helped to establish the Sports Women of Colorado organization to publicly recognize outstanding female athletes. Jerry was also very active in gourmet clubs, financial club and the Calgary Oilman’s woman’s group. She was an accomplished bridge player, snow skier, tennis player and thoroughly enjoyed travelling. She operated a small business in the fashion industry representing Carlisle woman’s clothing. She and Scott were active members of the University of Montana alumni association. In La Quinta, Jerry enjoyed plein-air painting, watching her son, Scott, and grandson, Scottie Mac, play polo and hosting family and friends at her home.

Jerry will best be remembered as a great wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, friend, host, painter and enthusiastic conversationalist. She is already deeply missed.

Jerry was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Lois and her grandson, Casey Cunningham. She is survived by her husband, Scott; her children, Scott Emery Cunningham (Laurie), Cathy Cunningham Geiger (Steve), Helen Cunningham Corrigan (Mike) and Kelly Cunningham Stoneburgh as well as nine grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

Jerry’s family are deeply appreciative for all the care givers and staff in The Carillon at Belleview Station, as well as the all the hospice nurses and physicians who provided so much care for her.

The family will be holding a Celebration of Life Service at Christ Church Denver 2950 South University Boulevard Denver on February 8th at 10:30 am, viewing at 9:30 am. In lieu of flowers, please honor Jerry by donating to the Alzheimers Association (https://www.ALZ.org).