Jerry B. Poe

Jerry Bowlin Poe, beloved husband and father, and Professor Emeritus of Finance at Arizona State University, died December 26, 2023 at 4:07am. Jerry B., as he was known by family, was born October 3, 1931 to Eunice and Carlyle Poe of Mountain Gove, Missouri. He grew up there where he graduated as a valedictorian of Mountain Grove High School. He graduated from Drury College in 1953 with a degree in Economics. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a line office in the United States Naval Reserve, having completed military training while in college. He then served active duty on the USS George Clymer (AP 27) in the Pacific Amphibious Corps. Poe continued reserve service after active duty and retired as a Lieutenant Commander. In 1957 he earned the degree of Master of Business Administration from Washington University in St. Louis. In 1959 he married Carol Jo Mussler who he met at Washington University. They moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts where he enrolled as a Ford Foundation Fellow in the doctoral program at the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration, and Carol earned the Master of Arts in Teaching degree at Harvard. Jerry completed Harvard’s Doctor of Business Administration degree in 1963 when he was teaching at Drury College’s Breech School of Business Administration and later became Director of the Breech School. Carol taught Social Studies at Springfield’s Central High School and served as head of the History department. With the Birth of Cheryl, their first daughter, Carol retired from teaching and along with childcare of Cheryl and their second daughter, Jennifer, concentrated on church work and the League of Women Voters. In 1974, Jerry accepted the Finance Department’s Chairmanship at Arizona State University where he taught until 2000. He authored seven editions of The American Business Enterprise, co-authored and chair for the Higher Learning Commission which accredits colleges and universities from 1973 to 2000. Additional faculty teaching assignments included industrial engineering with McDonnell Douglas and consulting with firms including Trans World Airlines, Small Business Administration, Zenith, and Ridewell Corp. Jerry B. was a life-long member of the Methodist Church and active in the financial management of several congregations including Sun Lakes United Methodist Church. Jerry and Carol were married 59 years until her death on November 25, 2018 from Parkinson’s Disease. Carol provided years of leadership in developing the nationally recognized Rose Garden at Mesa Community College. Dr. Poe is survived by his daughters, Cheryl and Jennifer Poe of Tempe. Jerry was preceded in death by his loving wife of 59 years, Carol Poe and sister Mary Francis Smith. Jerry and Carol enjoyed traveling in Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, and China, and with their daughters for many years in the United States and abroad including Europe, Russia, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Alaska and Hawaii. Memorial Contributions may be made to the donor’s choice of philanthropic institutions. A Celebration of Jerry’s Life will be held at a date and time to be determined at the Sun Lakes United Methodist Church, 9248 E Riggs Rd, Sun Lakes.