Jerry Emmett Trotter, 81, a member of the Shady Grove community, died Wednesday, October 2, 2019, at his residence. Visitation will be held from 1-2 p.m. on Sunday, October 6, 2019, at Shady Grove Methodist Church with Dillard Funeral Home of Troy directing. Immediately following, the funeral service will be at 2 p.m., with interment after in Shady Grove Methodist Cemetery.

Mr. Trotter was born in Shady Grove on April 25, 1938, to Helen and Carwell Trotter. He was raised on his family’s farm in Shady Grove with his four siblings: Jean, Sam, Larry, and Mary Helen. He attended nearby Shellhorn School and later Troy High School. As a young man, he enjoyed baseball, basketball, hunting, and summers spent in Panama City Beach. Following high school, he earned a bachelors degree in mathematics at Troy State University. While studying at Troy, he met and married his wife of 59 years, Marsha Walker Trotter.  Mr. Trotter also served in the U.S. Army Reserve.

Although he began his career as a math teacher, he dreamed of working in the space industry. He jumped at the opportunity to work as a mathematician for Pan Am on Florida’s Space Coast. He then spent nearly 40 years working as a mathematician and principal scientist with several aerospace contractors, most notably D.B.A., in the field of geodesy. Among significant clients were NASA, U.S. Air Force, Naval Research Laboratory, and U.S. Department of Defense. Jerry surprised everyone in his 50s when he transitioned from his scientific career and purchased a tropical fish farm. With the use of his sharp analytic skills and work ethic, he turned Oasis Tropical Fish Farm into a big success. In his spare time, he loved gardening, boating, fishing, and spending time at his beloved farm in Shady Grove.

He is survived by his wife, Marsha Walker Trotter; sons, Jerry Trotter II (Sandy), Carwell Trotter (Sherry), Kenneth Trotter, Troy Trotter; siblings, Larry Trotter (Glenda), Mary Helen Fleming (Earl); grandchildren, Krystle Walls (Joe), Jerry Trotter III, Justin Trotter, Jillianne Crescenzi (Keith), J.C. Trotter (Courtney); great-grandchildren, Marley Walls, Jackson Walls, Sofia Crescenzi, and Maxim Crescenzi. He was preceded in death by his sister Jean Petrey and brother Sam Trotter.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Shady Grove Cemetery Memorial Fund.

To sign the online guest register please visit our website at www.dillardfh.com