HERKIMER - Jeryl Lou Ayers age 48 of Steuben Road entered into eternal rest on Monday afternoon September 22, 2003 in University Hospital, Syracuse. She was born on October 27, 1954 in Utica daughter of the late Lawrence and Jean McGovern Ayers. A lifelong area resident she was educated in both Ilion and Herkimer Schools, graduating from Herkimer High School with the class of 1973. Lou furthered her education at SUNY Alfred and finished her under graduate studies at Buffalo State University where she received her Masters Degree in Elementary Education. She happiest when she was surrounded by children. Her desire in life was to teach school but a deteriorating condition of Rheumatoid Arthritis limited her ability to teach. She was a member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Auxiliary. In her leisure time she enjoyed crocheting Afghans, studying genealogy, and keeping in touch with her family. She will always be remembered as a loving, caring person with an upbeat personality and will be greatly missed by her many friends and family. Surviving are one brother; Gary and his wife Beth Ayers along with their children; Jessica, Ryan, Benjamin and Lauren of Houston, TX, her father; Robert Pryor of Herkimer, a sister; Kathleen and her husband Michael Nasypany with their children; Aileen, Jerome, Matthew, and Caitlin of Herkimer, two cousins; Joel and Linda McGovern and their children Ian and Kyle of Mohawk and her two cats Biff and Cindy. Funeral service will be on Thursday at 10:00 am in Fenner Funeral Home Inc., 115 Court Street, Herkimer. The Reverend Robert Shinos, Pastor of the Church of Sts. Anthony and Joseph and the Reverend David Kirkpatrick, Chaplain of the Masonic Home, Utica will officiate. The committal will take place in Armory Hill Cemetery, Ilion at a time convenient to the family. The family will be present in the funeral home to receive relatives and friends on Wednesday (today) from 7:00 until 9:00 pm. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Arthritis Foundation. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.