Kermit Wendle Derrick

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The following was lovingly written by Kermit's family...

Kermit Wendle Derrick was born in Englewood, Tennessee on June 4, 1942, to Robert Jake Derrick and Martha Melvina Stiles. He was the last of 4 boys. When Martha passed away in 1944, Kermit was unofficially adopted by his Aunt and Uncle, Jim and Otsie Beaver who lived in Alcoa, Tennessee. They raised Kermit as their own, and he grew up in a loving home right down the street from Alcoa High School. He enjoyed playing basketball and was part of the school team for several years. It was in school that he met Billie Sue McFall. They were married in 1960 and soon Debra Denise Derrick was born in 1961. Understanding that he had to support his young family, Kermit relocated to Forest Park, Georgia near Atlanta after hearing about jobs at the new airport. It was at Delta that he would spend the next 35 years, working hard in nearly every job they offered him. His last few years at Delta, he spent fueling the planes, and he made great friends and played cards every day. He said it was the easiest job he ever had. Everything he did was done with a great attitude – never complaining. His time in Forest Park was spent raising his cherished daughter DeDe, buying cars, watching rainstorms, and attending the nearby church.

In 1982, Debra had Kermit’s first grandchild, Angela, and, in 1983, Rick was born. Kermit was heavily involved in his grandchildren’s early lives, contributing financially to their Christian school education and picking them up from school usually several days per week. Kermit also helped to fund family vacations to St. Simons Island where he would help teach Angela and Rick to swim in the ocean, hunt for sand dollars, and where he would float for hours in the waves. In 1995, Kermit and Billie divorced, and Kermit retired from Delta. On the advice of a close friend, he started traveling to Salida, Colorado, and taught himself how to ski at the age of 50. It was in Salida, that he attended church and met Mary Lee, who had also recently been divorced. They bonded quickly over their love for Christ and family and were married in 1995. Kermit and Mary Lee kept their home in Salida for several years and hosted family for ski trips often. Kermit taught his daughter and grandkids how to ski and cherished his time in Colorado.

In 1996, Kermit and Mary Lee decided to relocate back to Mannford, Oklahoma where Mary Lee was from and her family still resided. Kermit embraced living in Oklahoma, quickly becoming an OSU fan, but more importantly, loved being near Mary Lee’s family who he called his own. Mary Lee’s wonderful family treated Kermit as their own immediately, and he never missed a holiday, family event, or chance to help any of their kids or grandkids. Kermit enjoyed being busy and took on jobs as a bus driver and crossing guard for the local school where all the kids loved his gregarious personality. He was soon well-known in all of Mannford and made friends everywhere he went. Kermit spent his last years attending church, playing golf, cutting wood, and ultimately taking excellent care of Mary Lee after her stroke in 2019. Kermit exemplified Christ with his life and the Fruits of the Spirit, living his life with joy, gentleness, patience, and most of all love. His warmth and laughter will be greatly missed by his surviving wife, 4 children, 10 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. His incredible legacy will live on for generations to come.