Baker City, Oregon
Gerald “Jerry” Geddes, 73, of Baker City, died May 3, 2007, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
His memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the First Presbyterian Church, 1995 Fourth St. Pastor Susan Barnes will officiate. There will be a reception afterward in Rogers Hall at the church.
Visitations will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday at Gray’s West & Co., 1500 Dewey Ave.
Jerry was born on March 21, 1934, at Haines to Joe and Viola McCurdy Geddes. He was raised at Hereford and was a 1952 Hereford High School graduate.
After high school, he attended OTI (now Oregon Institute of Technology) at Klamath Falls to become an auto body and fender repairman. After college he worked at the Chevrolet Garage in Baker City. Later he worked as an insurance adjuster with various companies. He retired in 1996 from his own company, Eastern Oregon Claims, which he operated in partnership with Jim Danford.
Jerry married Rosanna Heart on April 17, 1955, at the First Presbyterian Church in Baker City. They were married until her death in June 2003. They lived in Baker City where they raised their family.
On Feb. 25, 2006, he married Jean Simpson at the First Presbyterian Church in Baker City. After both of them had been devoted and loving caregivers to their spouses, they enjoyed two wonderful years together enjoying family, grandchildren and travel.
In high school, Jerry was an outstanding athlete in many sports. He later was a basketball official for many years, and also a volunteer umpire for many baseball games. He was also an avid lifetime hunter, fisherman and sports fan. He traveled to many of his children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events. He was a lifetime Baker High School sports supporter.
Jerry was a member of the Elks Lodge and had recently become a member of the Baker Lions Club.
He was a very devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend.
“He was a true friend to all who knew him and was loved by many,” his family said. “He was known to never know a stranger.”
Survivors include his loving wife, Jean; children, Jeri Ann Geddes of Baker City, Rita Humphreys and her husband, Steve, of Gresham, and Brian Geddes and his companion, Debi Bohannon, of Boise; former son-in-law, Tom Hanley of Baker City; stepdaughters, Jill Harland and her husband, Dan, of Lakeview, and Christy Swindlehurst and her husband, Scott, of Unity; grandchildren, Marissa Hanley, Allison, Connor and Kylee Humphreys, Logan and Kelsie Geddes, Zack and Ginna Swindlehurst and Nathan, Nick and Jenny Harlan; brothers, Bill Geddes, and his wife, Shiela, of La Grande, and Terry Geddes, and his wife, Ellen, of Ontario; sister-in-law, Nancy Geddes, of Haines; and nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Baker High School Athletic Department or the Burnt River High School Athletic Department at Unity through Gray’s West & Co., 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, May 7, 2007
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor