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TACAMO Fallen - Gerald (Jerry) R. Greer (Updatde)
- TACAMO Community
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
June 23, 1949 - January 6, 2026
Gerald (Jerry) Ray Greer passed away January 6, 2026 at Norman Regional Hospital in Norman, OK, surrounded by friends and family. Jerry was born June 23, 1949, in Newton, KS to Lowell Greer and Rosa Lee Greer (Maples). Following school, he joined the Army when he was 18, serving from 1967 to 1970. While serving, he earned multiple Service badges, Bronze Service Stars, and was an expert rifleman.
Jerry’s career involved owning his own VW repair shop, being a fireman, and working for Boeing Aircraft for over 45 years. During his career with Boeing, he worked many places across the country as an E-6 Fleet Support manager, overall logistics manager, and finally as the E-6 Subject Matter Expert (SME) until his passing. He was known as “Mister Mercury” to Sailors, government and Navy leaders, and the Boeing people he worked with. There was never a question he couldn’t answer, never a problem his knowledge didn’t help resolve.
Outside of his career, Jerry enjoyed travelling, collecting various musical instruments, and playing music. He was a talented musician, having mastered the guitar and dobro, and loved to sing and play with his many friends and family. He and his wife LaDonia, loved playing “jams” at local places including nursing homes and churches, and especially their own home, where they welcomed many passionate musicians. He was known for looking out for others and helping in any way he could. He was respected and loved by many and will be truly missed.
He is survived by his wife, LaDonia Carlson-Greer and son/grandson, Devlin Vega of the home, his children: Rick, Laura, Summer, Dominic, and Seth and his brothers, Dan and Kent.
Jerry was preceded in death by his father Lowell, his mother Rosa Lee, and his brother Ron.
A memorial service will be announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations to honor Jerry can be made to Wounded Warrior Project or your favorite charity.
Arrangements are under the thoughtful direction of Moore Funeral and Cremation.
In Memoriam: Gerald (Jerry) R. Greer
Comments by Vern Lochausen
Jerry Greer was not only a champion in his community and for his family, but he was also the go-to person for everything related to the Boeing/Navy E-6 Mercury airborne communications aircraft. His journey began in Seattle, where the aircraft was built, and continued through its initial delivery to Barbers Point, Hawaii, in the late 1980s.
From there, Jerry joined the E-6 Introduction Support team at Pax River, Maryland, from 1990 to 1993, developing training for Sailors and future E-6 support personnel, as well as Navy Field Service Engineering organizations.
His work with the E-6 took him across the country. He served as E-6 Fleet Support Manager at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma (1993–1999), and then as Field Service Manager for all E-6 support sites in Seattle (1999–2001). He later became the overall Logistics Manager for the program in Seattle and Wichita, Kansas (2001–2006).
Boeing once again called upon his expertise to lead the E-6 Glass Cockpit Modification Program as Program Manager in Jacksonville, Florida (2006–2010). He then settled in Oklahoma as the E-6 Subject Matter Expert (SME) until his passing. There was never a question he couldn’t answer, nor a problem his knowledge couldn’t resolve—earning him the affectionate title of “Mister Mercury” among Sailors, Navy leaders, government personnel, and Boeing colleagues alike.
Jerry’s contributions went far beyond daily duties. He established standards for field service support, connected E-6 operations with Boeing Commercial 707 SMEs, preserved the program’s corporate memory, and was recognized as the primary resource for Fleet and NAVAIR on all E-6 matters since 2010. His innovative and pragmatic approach to logistics ultimately led to his nomination and induction into the TACAMO Hall of Fame in 2017.
Jerry touched thousands of lives and was widely recognized as the Mercury expert in the Navy TACAMO community. From training and logistics to engineering and program knowledge, he was a walking encyclopedia of the E-6 and its history—a legacy that will endure for generations.
I first met Jerry at Barbers Point in 1989 when a group of us young Boeing employees descended on the flightline and took up residence in the Airframe Shop, supporting and training Navy Plane Captains on refueling, jacking, towing and all kinds of unscheduled maintenance. Anytime we ran into engineering questions, Jerry was our direct link back to Seattle; as the onsite liaison engineer he would often appear on the flightline wearing his engineering hat to get things done. After three years we followed the Fleet to support the stand-up at Pax River, where I worked alongside Jerry until our paths briefly diverged — he to OKC for the TACAMO mission and I to WACO and Offutt — and I…
Fleet Service at its’ best. I was the maintenance officer at VQ-4 when we transitioned to the E-6 at Pax River. Jerry and the Boeing team were outstanding. We could not have gotten the job done without his expertise. He was a super individual who had every sailor’s best interest at heart. Condolences to his family and friends.
JI worked with Jerry and for Jerry for a big percentageof my 28 years with Boeing. Jerry mentored me when I transitioned out if the training world into the Field Service world. Jerry was not just my go-to guy, he was everyones go-to guy. Jerry's encyclopedic knowledge of 707's was immeasurable to the fleet and to those of us that supported the fleet. Jerry was not just my mentor, but he was also my friend, and he will definitely be missed.