HUFFAKER, Jerry K.

The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, AZ., Wednesday, December 03, 2014 Huffaker, Jerry K. 82, October 8, 1932-November 3, 2014. Jerry Huffaker, of Mesa, Arizona was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the son of Vearn and Rheta (Tosier) Huffaker. Upon graduation from Prescott High School in 1951, Jerry served for five years in the United States Navy, stationed on both coasts and in Japan. He then enrolled at Arizona State University where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Education Degree in 1960 and his Masters of Arts in Education in 1964. After teaching English at Mesa High School from 1960-1968, he joined the English faculty at Mesa Community College. Jerry's graduate and undergraduate studies had included a variety of humanities classes. At that time there were no established humanities courses in the district. Along with other faculty members at MCC, Jerry helped to inaugurate the first humanities classes at MCC. Later, because of his interest in film studies, Jerry developed courses at MCC on the history and the art of the motion picture, encouraging the district to incorporate these classes into their curricula, by stressing the need to recognize film making as the "art form of the 20th century." Upon Jerry's retirement from MCC in 1992 he continued his interest in arts by expanding his horizon to the field of ceramics by learning to craft ceramic works of all types, studying both at MCC and other art centers in the country. Jerry is survived by his wife of 48 years, Joyce (Freseman) Huffaker whom he met while they were both teaching at Mesa High School, his niece Lynette (Rob) Prouty of Cottonwood, Arizona and his nephew Darin Peed of Tonopah, Nevada. A memorial service will be held at Marriott Phoenix Mesa, 200 N. Centennial Way, Mesa, Arizona on Saturday, December 13 at 2 pm. You may leave a tribute to Jerry at www.obits.azcentral.com.