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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Obituary: Mcgougan, Jerry Nelson

Age 77

McGOUGAN, Jerry Nelson (Age 77) Passed away December 29th, 2014 in Spokane, Washington.

He was born December 7th, 1937 in Anaconda, Montana to Donald and Ruth McGougan.

Jerry graduated from John Rogers High School in 1955 and joined the Coast Guard Reserves.

He married his high school sweetheart, Patty Mossuto on September 15th, 1956.

Jerry worked for Saad’s Shoe Repair until he became a Spokane Police Officer in 1960.

He and his brother Gene worked together climbing the ranks and were a part of many major crime investigations in Spokane.

Jerry had a very successful career on the force working his way up from motorcycle patrol to Detective, then Sergeant and finally Detective-Lieutenant.

In 1968 he was put in charge of the first vice, intelligence and narcotics unit in department history.

His specialty during his law enforcement years was solving seemingly impossible cases through imaginative thinking.

He retired in 1980 and decided to put those talents to use and start his own private investigating business, McGougan Investigations.

Jerry was a friend to many.

Over his years on the force he was known to take in a lost soul and a German Shepherd or two.

You always knew he had your back if he called you a friend.

Jerry was known for his sense of humor, he loved playing tricks on his fellow officers and telling jokes.

He loved his family and worked tirelessly to provide for them, so Patty could stay home to care for the kids.

He had numerous side-jobs including riding his police motorcycle to escort funerals.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents Don and Ruth and his sister Lynn Wohl.

He is survived by his wife, Patty McGougan, Spokane; his three children, Jeff (Paulina) McGougan, Spokane, Drew (Patti) McGougan, Newcastle, WA , Lisa (Scott) Poole, Spokane; and his brother Gene McGougan, Spokane.

He loved his grandchildren and was so proud of all of them; Jack and Max McGougan, Alix McGougan, Tyler, Tony and Trevor Poole and one great-grandchild Lucy Mae Poole.

Services will be held on Saturday, January 3rd at 12pm at Heritage Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in his name to the American Heart Association or the Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Project via the Law Enforcement Museum.