Jerry Stillman

Born January 23, 1939 at Poplar Bluff, Mo., he was one of three children born to the late Alton and Mary Macintosh Stillman and was raised in the Peach Orchard area, according to friends.

His brother, Kneibert Stillman of Holcomb, Mo., and sister, Janet Bean, also of Holcomb, Mo., survive him. As does his wife, Linda Jane Rutherford Stillman, whom he married in 1960 at the age of 21 in Cardwell, Mo..

Stillman was the father of Joe Alton Stillman of Kennett, Mo., and Suzanne Knoblich of Wildwood, Mo., and grandfather to six grandchildren, Thomas, Anna, Joseph, Sarah Jane, John David, and Andrew.

A member of First Christian Church in Kennett, Stillman was also affiliated with the local Kennett Lions Club and a member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity.

He spent a great deal of his life practicing law, approximately 20 years, and was a key player in the local judicial system, serving as an Associate Circuit Court Judge in Dunklin County for 14 years until his retirement ceremony held on Dec. 30, 1994.

Regarding Stillman's career as judge, the Honorable Judge Flake L. McHaney perhaps summed it up best when he said that in the performance of his duties, Stillman, in every occasion, remained judicious and a very compassionate human being.

Speaking at Stillman's retirement ceremony, McHaney said to Stillman, "You have always strived for a decision that had the application of good, common horse sense." McHaney added, "horse sense that only comes from maturity and experience and an exposure to human beings.

McHaney said Stillman was a man who treated every person who appeared before him, whether he was a criminal defendant or a civil litigant, with common decency.

Why? Because, according to McHaney, Stillman understood what other applaudable judges understand, that judges and lawyers are granted a very special privilege of having people's lives and liberty in their power, McHaney said.

Stillman, according to associates, unlike those who have never sat in the judges seat and could never understand, realized in every case he dealt with that he was dealing with someone's life and their most important possession: their liberty.

"A judge has one job, and that's to try and do the right thing within the law. That's what I've tried to do," Stillman said of his judicial responsibility.

"I hope most of my decisions were based on that, not taking into consideration who someone was or what law firm they were with, how much money they had or didn't have, whether or not they might vote for you or not.

"All those things are not to be considered in judicial decisions, and I've always tried to operate in that category."

According to McHaney, few people realize that in many cases which Stillman took under advisement, he closed the door and labored for many hours trying to find a good solution to the problem that existed.

"This bar association is proud to tell you that you have been an outstanding judge," McHaney told Stillman in 1994.

"You have performed your duties with dedication, with sincerity."

Although at times people serving in such supreme positions appear as though they feel they must separate themselves from others, a consensus was formed among Stillman's associates and friends, noting that Stillman never presented himself as "anointed", nor did he ever develop a judicial complex.

His fellow lawyers and associates commented in 1994 on the fact that as soon as Stillman walked out of the courtroom, he was one of them, adding that the bar treasured that more than Stillman could know or appreciate himself.

Outside of the courtroom, most who knew him well, would say that Stillman's primary focus was on his family.

Friends said Stillman had hobbies and personal interests, but none that consumed him as his love for his family did.

He always held his wife, Linda, and children in the highest regard, never taking on any venture that would take him away from them for too long, according to family members and friends.

In addition to his devotion to his family, Stillman placed interest in the historical content of the civil war, jogged, was a self-proclaimed Elvis Presley fan and possessed a adoration and appreciation for beautiful cars, including a 1970 blue Pontiac GTO convertible he purchased brand new for his wife the year the car was released.

Interestingly enough, Stillman held on to his prized car for more than 30 years before selling it to Kennett Native and Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter Sheryl Crow.

Stillman practiced law with Crow's attorney father, Wendell W. Crow in Kennett, and had community ties to her through his son and daughter-in-law who attended Kennett Public Schools with the music star.

Crow contacted Stillman regarding the car collector's dream, sharing her intention to have the car tricked out through TLC's Overhauling television show as a gift to her then boyfriend Lance Armstrong after his victory of the Tour De France.

Stillman agreed saying that he couldn't think of any place better for the car to be and the car was overhauled, appearing on air Nov. 30, 2004.

Selling the car to Crow was something Stillman was certainly not pressed to do through any obligation outside of his own selflessness, and desire to do good unto others, according to his friends.

The case of the GTO, was just one instance in which Stillman displayed his attentiveness to an unwritten code he followed regarding looking out for others in addition to taking care of himself.

Whether it was in the way he, as a landowner, vested a sincere interest in the people working for him on the farm, or how he responded to a homeless person on the street asking for a buck, Stillman lived up to the reputation he built for himself, painting a picture over the years of a man who was loving, honest, sincere, compassionate, and fair.