A memorial gathering celebrating the life of Jerry Arledge, 83, of West Monroe, Louisiana will be held from 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M., Saturday, February 21, 2026, at First West Baptist Church in Tennison Hall, under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home, West Monroe.

Coach Jerry O. Arledge was born on April 1, 1942, and was raised in Oil City, Louisiana and he passed away peacefully on February 14, 2026, in Monroe, Louisiana.

He graduated from North Caddo High School and went on to play football for Louisiana Tech University, where he majored in Biology Education. After graduating from Louisiana Tech, he went on to coach football at North Caddo High School, Fair Park High School, Northwestern State University (where he earned his master’s degree), Louisiana Tech University, and West Monroe High School.

His career and dedication to the game of football spanned over fifty years. He coached hundreds of players and mentored many coaches throughout the years. He was a true scholar of the game, but more importantly, he loved the relationships he developed from coaching the game.

He was devoted to his faith and was a faithful member of First Methodist Church in West Monroe.

He was preceded in death by his grandson, Ben; parents, Ruel and Myrtle Arledge; siblings, Edward Arledge, Buster Arledge, and Peggy Densmore.

Those left to honor and cherish are his wife of over sixty years, the former Sally Lytton of Gilliam, Louisiana; four children, Sara Blackwell, Will Arledge (Joan), Libby Gleason (Steve), and Rob Arledge (Amanda); grandchildren, Abby, Will (Laura), Sally, Emily (Matt), Mary, Andrew, Lytton, and Sara Catherine; five great grandchildren; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, loved ones, and friends.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to First Methodist Church of West Monroe, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, or the West Monroe High School Alumni and Friends Foundation.