Every day for the past couple of weeks, a steady stream of police officers made their way to Cookeville Regional Medical Center where one of their own lay dying.

They came to say their goodbyes to Putnam Sheriff’s Detective Sgt. Jerry Dale Abston, who was losing the brave battle he had fought against cancer for the past year or so. They were not alone, as countless other friends of the Abston family also came to visit this man who always greeted everyone with a big smile, a booming laugh, and often a funny story or two. Even in his illness, he maintained that sunny attitude.

The son of former Sheriff Jerry Abston, he was born June 11, 1965, and grew up in and around the justice system here and made it his own career at a young age, beginning as a dispatcher and working his way up to the position of detective.

He had lost one kidney to cancer when he was just 14 and then lost the other to the same disease last year at the age of 48. But he approached this hardship just as he did all of life, with a smile, a determination to keep working, and the statement that he was “too blessed to be depressed.”

With wife Kim and daughter Morgan by his side, along with his parents, Jerry Abston and Lois Bertram, as well as his parents-in-law, Eddie and Linda Thompson, and his many friends, he took it all in stride and went back to his normal life and work. His medical treatment included dialysis, a mechanical procedure that replaces some of the function of the kidneys. And though there would be a long wait to get on a list, he also had the hope of someday getting a life-saving kidney transplant.

But recently, his condition worsened and he had to be hospitalized, and before long, he and his family knew it was just a matter of a short time. Still, he smiled, gave that big-hearted laugh, and greeted everyone who came to visit with his trademark upbeat attitude.

Yesterday, with the family by his side, he died peacefully, leaving a legacy of good memories for his loved ones and all who knew him. One friend said, “This whole community is now in mourning.”

Sheriff David Andrews said, “Jerry Dale dedicated his life to law enforcement. He loved life and always tried to have fun, but he also knew when to be serious. He was like a little brother to me years ago. I met him when he was eight years old when his dad was sheriff, and he just grew up in this business. One thing I know about him as an adult is that he loved being a daddy to his daughter, and was so proud of her. He was a good guy, and we’re going to miss him.”

“He was loved by everybody,” said Sheriff’s Detective Lt. Bob Crabtree. “He was a great guy and he knew everybody. He loved talking to people. It just won’t be the same not seeing him here at work every day.”

Cookeville Police Chief Randy Evans said, “He was an extremely well respected member of the law enforcement community. He had a great ability to bring people together, even in his illness and passing. The outpouring of love and concern for him has been so great. We have lost a brother, and he will be missed.”

His last brave battle and his gracious demeanor were noted by many of his friends who described their last visits with him or their memories of his friendship on their Facebook pages.

Tennessee Tech athletic coach Frank Harrell wrote this tribute to Abston: “You fought a great fight and lived your life in such a way that you earned the respect, admiration and love of so many people.”

Funeral services will be held Friday, July 4, 2014, at 1 p.m. at Poplar Grove Baptist Church on Poplar Grove Road.

The family will receive friends at the church today (Friday) from 7 a.m. until time for the services.

Burial will be at Cookeville City Cemetery.

Presley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. (Herald Citizen-Cookeville)