Editor
Jerry Carlier, a former Clermont County Commissioner and Stonelick Township Trustee, died Friday, July 4.
Carlier, 85, of Owensville, served one term as county commissioner from 1980-1984. He was a Stonelick Township Trustee for more than 20 years, serving terms both before and after his term as Clermont County Commissioner.
Carlier grew up on Stonelick Williams Corner Road in Stonelick Township. He attended Owensville High School, was on the baseball and basketball teams, and graduated in 1947.
He started a long career with Cincinnati Bell as a lineman. He was promoted to supervisor and to management positions before he retired after being elected county commissioner.
“He retired from the phone company so he could be commissioner full time,” Carlier’s daughter Connie Zurmehly said. “Back then it (the commissioner’s position) was part time, but he wanted to dedicate himself to it full time.”
Carlier’s daughter Debbie Holderman said that her dad, a Democrat, drew support from members of both political parties.
“Everybody backed him,” she said. “A lot of Republicans would say ‘we need you.’”
Carlier’s brother Larry Carlier, a former county probate and juvenile court judge, said that he was well-liked.
“He was easy to get along with and would do anything for anybody,” Larry Carlier said. “He was just somebody that everybody liked.”
Larry Carlier said that he was a juvenile court judge during the years that his brother was county commissioner, and that they were among the last Democrats to hold county offices.
“Back then it was about 50/50 (Republican and Democrat), but we were about the last Democrats,” he said. “After that one term, the county just turned around – a Democrat didn’t have a chance after that.”
Carlier was also involved with many organizations in the community.
He was a 4-H club advisor for many years, and a member of the Northeastern Lions Club. He served as president of the Clermont Northeastern PTA, and as president of the Clermont County Township Association. He was a member of St. Louis Church. He was a lector at the church for many years, and served on various church committees.
His daughter Connie said that what was most important to her father was his family.
“Family just meant everything to him, he was just a real family man,” she said.
Carlier was preceded in death by his wives Marie Koeppe Carlier and Beatrice Hail Carlier.
Survivors include children Thomas (Diana) Carlier, Deborah Holderman, Connie (Thomas) Zurmehly, Robert (Laura) Carlier, Melinda (Jeffrey) Adams, and Joseph Howard; grandchildren Wendy Duesing, Jill Zerhusen, Keith and Christopher Zurmehly, Wayne Holderman, Garth, Emily, Jacob and Logan Carlier, Patrick, Sarah, Grace, David and Faith Adams, Danny, Ben, and Beth Howard; 10 great-grandchildren; siblings Lawrence (Joan) Carlier, Carolyn (Robert) Farrell, Paul (Darlene) Carlier, Barbara (George) Carl and Michael (Janet) Carlier.
Visitation and Mass of Christian Burial were held Tuesday, July 8 at St. Louis Church, Owensville.
Memorial donations may be made to Cross Roads Hospice, 4380 Glendale-Milford Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45242 or St. Vincent de Paul, 210 N. Broadway Street, Owensville, Ohio 45160.