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Gerald Paul “Jerry” Smith ( Missoula 1962 )

posted: Nov 25, 2024

Jerry, 81, died November 21, 2023. He was born in Tacoma, WA, January 27, 1942 and grew up on Maury Island and Bellingham. Jerry graduated from Western Washington State College with a degree in languages (French and Russian). He earned his education by working summers for the USFS, first on a ground crew and as a jumper. Jerry jumped at Missoula 1962-64, Grangeville 1965, 69, 70, West Yellowstone 1971-78, and Fairbanks 1979-81. He was in the US Army stationed in Germany for several years. Jerry was trained as an electrician, appliance repairman, and auto mechanic. He retired in about 2009 and had heart valve issues, which were repaired.

Jerry was an avid reader, seldom fiction. He was interested in the natural world and people who had accomplished something. Jerry thought it was important to tread lightly on the earth. He rode his bicycle as long as he could, picked up litter when he walked, wrote to his government representatives regularly, and fought the social injustice he saw.