Noted music educator Mock dies

Special to the Avalanche

Jeremy “Jerry” Harmon Mock, famous for developing the Mock Guitar Method, passed away Sunday, Dec. 7, peacefully with his entire family around him. He had a love for learning, music, and travel.

Jerry was born Dec. 10, 1925, in Arkansas City, Kan., to Francina Baker Mock and Nelson Houston Mock.

His sense of adventure was apparent early on when Jerry dropped out of college two months before graduating so he could bicycle around Europe in the wake of World War II. He went on to receive his bachelor of journalism degree at the University of Missouri in 1949. From 1949-54, he was a writer and editor for the Pensacola (Florida) News-Journal.

In 1954, during the Korean War, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and worked in the Counter-Intelligence Corps while stationed in Tokyo, Japan. He bought a Rolleiflex camera in Japan that he used for many years to take pictures of the world.

In 1956, Jerry returned to the U.S. to continue his career in journalism. He worked as an editor and managing editor for the Pensacola News-Journal, as a reporter for the Associated Press and as a capitol correspondent for the Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville) and 21 John H. Perry Newspapers. He also wrote a political column called the “Mocking Word.”

Always the student, Jerry went to graduate school in 1963 at Florida State University, where he met Ruth Ray. A mutual friend, a viola player in the symphony, introduced them because both had lived in Asia and both loved music. It was a match: Jerry and Ruth were married in 1964, and Jerry completed his master of arts in the history of Asia in 1965.

Jerry accepted a position in a Ph.D. program at the University of Arizona, but he never made it. Instead, while driving in South Texas with Ruth on their honeymoon in 1964, a twister overturned their Airstream trailer and they lost many of their belongings. They temporarily accepted teaching positions in McAllen, then decided to stay and open a music school. In the meantime, Jerry began studying guitar. He took master classes in Mexico City with guitar maestro Manuel Lopez Ramos. He also studied cello and played with the Pan American Symphony Orchestra in Edinburg, Texas.

In 1967, Jerry took a job with the Corpus Christi Caller-Times editorial staff, and the Mocks moved to Corpus Christi. He and the family moved back to South Texas in 1972, and Jerry and Ruth opened the Mock Music School in Edinburg.

In 1972, Jerry and Ruth published “The Mock Family Classic Guitar Method,” an instruction book for teaching guitar. The couple used this method to teach their children, Julian, Nelson and Melody. Combining his skills in journalism and his talent in music, Jerry also worked with Ruth to create the magazine Creative Guitar International, which they published from 1973 until 1979.

In a flash of inspiration, Jerry and Ruth decided to perform with their children in a classical guitar quintet. Jerry arranged music for the family, and the summer of 1975 marked the first tour of the Mock Family Guitarists, with concerts in Mexico, Texas and Colorado.

Jerry and his family moved to Alpine in 1976, where they opened the Mock Music School. The family also continued to perform musically. Shortly after arriving in Alpine, Jerry joined the Sul Ross State University Symphony Orchestra with his cello. In 1976, the family gave 45 guitar concerts throughout England, Spain, Germany and the United States. Upon their return from touring, they performed at a benefit at Sul Ross.

In 1977, the family performed and gave workshops in the U.S. and in Canada, while their home base remained Alpine. A second European tour took place in 1978, with concerts and workshops in Sweden, Germany, Spain and the United States; a third European musical tour took place in 1979. And, in the summer of 1984, Jerry and Ruth, along with their son Julian, performed as street musicians in Germany.

?In addition to the Mock Music School, which operated in Alpine until 1995, the Mocks ran the Health Basket Music Center, where they sold health food and musical instruments.

Jerry also had a love for gardening and growing food. Through the years, Jerry never lost the travel bug. In 1988-89, Jerry and Ruth lived in Antigua, Guatemala, where they studied Spanish. From 1992-93, the couple went to China where they taught college-level courses in English as a second language.

?After retiring, Jerry spent the last few years enjoying his family and the small town of Alpine, where he and Ruth were often seen riding their bicycles, attending concerts and art openings, and always enjoying playing music.

Although he became blind in his 70s and had Parkinson’s Disease, Jerry kept his good spirits and his active lifestyle. He inspired many and made us all laugh.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Ruth, of Alpine; children Julian and wife Alyce Mock of Fort Davis, Nelson and wife Ann and their children Sofia and Jeremy Mock of Austin; and Melody and husband Keith Lee and their children Paloma and Oliver Lee-Mock of Albuquerque, N.M.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be sent to the Sul Ross Music Program Concert Artist Series, where Jerry enjoyed many concerts. The address is: SRSU Music Program Concert Artist Series, Box C-43, Alpine, 79832.

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