Jerry Ralph Harrod was born July 10, 1943, in Eureka, Kansas to Ralph W. and Elizabeth (Clum) Harrod. He attended Fiat grade school before moving to Howard where he completed his education, graduating with the class of 1961. He married Mary Buffalow on October 12, 1963, and had two sons, Gary and Greg.
Jerry worked in construction before starting his own business in 1970 – Harrod’s Blacksmith and Welding. He, along with Mary and Gary, grew and expanded their business to serve the needs of their local and surrounding communities, creating Harrods, Inc. From helping the small farmer to supporting large oil field companies, Jerry devoted himself to applying his many skills and years of experience to solve almost any kind of challenge his customers faced.
Even when his aging body began to fail him, he found ways to make his backhoe his “right hand man” so he could keep working as he did almost every day of his life. While Jerry was deeply committed to the business, he was just as committed to loving and caring for his family.
He is survived by his wife, Mary; son, Gary, of Howard; son, Greg, and wife, Kiersten of Wichita; brother, Weldon, of Ottawa; and sister, Janis Fuqua and her husband Nathan of Douglass. Jerry had five grandchildren: Kayla Fulsom, Ashley Porter, Aidan, Donovan, and Keegan Harrod and six great-grandchildren: Jaxon, Carly, Reese, and Halle Fulsom and Millie and Ada Porter.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, a daughter-in-law, and a grandson.
Funeral service were held on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, at 10 a.m. at Countryside Funeral Home – Howard, with burial following at Grace Lawn Cemetery. Visitation was held on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers you are invited to contribute to the Elk County Community Foundation to help support the community in which Jerry lived his entire life, these memorials may be left with or mailed to the funeral home. Online condolences may be left at www. countrysidefh.com Services were under the direction of Countryside Funeral Home 206 E. Washington, P.O. Box 1233, Howard, KS 67349
