Gerald Nathaniel Bailey

GERALD NATHANIEL BAILEY He was known as Jerry or JB by his family and friends. He passed away June 14, 2012 at his home in Wendell, Idaho with his loving family by his side. Jerry was born in Burley, Idaho August 5, 1926 to Edith Ann Larsen and Gilbert Roy Bailey, When Jerry was nine years old he lost both of his parents to Typhoid Fever. Jerry and his one little Brother also had Typhoid Fever but surived. This left him and his five siblings orphans. Jerry and his younger brother Don went to live with their maternal Grandmother in Burley, Idaho. As a young man, Jerry worked in Sun Valley for a while. He found work in Vallejo, California, Vancouver and Seattle Washington. He also worked on a farm in Burley for Jim and Mary Hill. They took him in as one of theirs. They became his extended family. He was in the Maritime Service for a short period of time. He served two years in the Navy as a Fireman Second Class on a Destroyer. In 1948, he was honorably discharged from the Nary and passed thru Wendell to visit Jim and Mary and he met his bride to be -- Jerry and Thelma V. Sprenger married March l, 1949 at her parent's home in Wendell, Idaho. He loved being his own boss, so farming was his passion. When farming didn't make ends meet he worked part time as a plumber, he hauled turkeys for Geislers, cattle for Cady Auto, and did carpenter work with Joe Stickle, He drove truck for several years for Montana Express. Gerald and Dell Henslee did custom haying in this area and in the Fairfield area. He also hauled potatoes at harvest time for Charley Hohnhorst. Jerry and Thelma had settled in the Orchard Valley area where they started a small dairy. They bought more land in the Westpoint area just down the road a piece and enlarged their dairy. Here they raised their family. In September 1997, they sold the farm and moved into Wendell. Jerry continued using his farm trucks hauling cull onions for Magic Valley Growers. Feb 7, 2012 was a sad day for Jerry. He had a stroke and could no longer take care of the onions. He loved his job there and everyone he worked with at Magic Valley Growers. Jerry was a wonderful husband. He and Thelma shared 63 plus years together. He asked very little for himself, but gave much to others. He was a great father, just ask his kids. They loved to be with him and he taught them much. He had so much love to give to his grandchildren, great grandchildren and his great great grandchildren. Friends were very dear to him. No words can express the loss we feel at this time. Jerry is survived by his wife Thelma of Wendell, daughter Ellen Kay Bailey of Filer, Gary Joe (Nancy) of Wendell, Calvin Roy of Jerome and Jeffrey Allen of Wamsutter, Wyoming, his sister Myrl Sievers of Desert Hot Springs, California, his brothers Don Bailey of Seattle Washington and Aril Roy (Mary) Bailey of McMinnville, Oregon. His extended family Bonnie (Jack) Funk of Burley, Dick (Nola) Hill of McCall Idaho and Georgia (Sherwood) Ricks on an L.D.S Mission in the Ukraine. Eight Grandchildren, 19 Great Grandchildren and 2 Great-Great Grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and two sister-in-laws. The family will receive friends at a visitation on Thursday, June 21, 2012 from 5 - 7 P.M. at Parke's Magic Valley Funeral Home Wendell - Gooding Chapel, 380 First Ave. East in Wendell. Friends may also call on Friday, June 22, 2012 from 10:30 - 11:30 at the Wendell Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 605 N. Idaho St. in Wendell, with Funeral Services beginning at 11:30 AM. Burial will follow with military honors at the Wendell Cemetery. Those who wish may share condolences at www.magicvalleyfunralhome.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Parke's Magic Valley Funeral Home Wendell - Gooding Chapel. The family would like to thank Dorinda of Hospice Visions for her special love and care of Gerald during his illness. Her care will never be forgotten.