Gerald Surratt's Obituary
On November 2, 2023, Gerald Wayne “Jerry” Surratt of Heber City, Utah, passed away peacefully in his home, surrounded by his beloved family after 89 years of a beautiful, love filled life. Jerry was born, the second of two sons to Harvey Surratt and Jessie May Howell on December 15, 1933, in Arenzville, Illinois. Jerry was raised by humble means where his thrifty characteristics were undoubtedly born. Tales of Christmas presents (or lack of), keeping the family pig warm behind the kitchen stove and pants handsewn from burlap were a few of many stories told of his childhood. After Jerry graduated from high school in 1952, he immediately enlisted in the Air Force where he was assigned to tail gunner aboard a B-29 Bomber during the Korean War. The war ended days before his deployment. Korea could have heard who the United States was sending and opted for peace before his arrival. For all we know Jerry Surratt possibly, single handedly ended the Korean War. It was in the Air Force where Jerry met his beloved friend Zeke Dorgan, who helped Jerry in numerous ways, companionship, advice and most of all, introducing Jerry to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After a year of attending church meetings and faithfully reading the Book of Mormon, Jerry decided to be baptized. Jerry was discharged from the Air Force in 1956 and returned home to Payson, Illinois. To strengthen his newfound faith, Jerry began to attend church at the Hannibal, Missouri branch, the closest to his home but still 15 miles away. After some time, Jerry left his home again and moved to Provo to attend Brigham Young University for a year. After that year, Jerry moved back home to accept a mission call to serve in California. After Jerry served his mission, he moved back home to Illinois and attended his previous branch in Hannibal. This is where he met his beautiful future wife, the Branch President, Antone Webb’s daughter, Dixie Webb. Jerry and Dixie dated for six months after her graduation before Jerry asked Dixie to be his wife. They made a 1,300-mile journey to the nearest temple to be sealed for time and all eternity in Mesa, Arizona, on February 2, 1960. Jerry and Dixie knew from the beginning that they wanted to raise their children in the west. They packed their meager belongings and moved to Phoenix, Arizona. They gave up being close to parents, siblings and extended family. Sacrificing close family relationships for bright, future opportunities for their children. It was in Arizona where Jerry and Dixie welcomed their 3 children, Ginger, David and Toni into their lives all born within 30 months of each other. While they lived in Phoenix, Jerry worked at Sperry Rand Company as a purchasing agent. Jerry’s mother at this time was battling cancer, and in 1967 Jerry made another sacrifice and moved his young family back to Missouri so they could be closer to his mother. They were able to make 2 years of memories before Jerry’s mom passed away. In 1969 Jerry and Dixie, being extremely proficient at packing and not scared of adventure and the unknown, made the difficult decision after many tears, visiting the Salt Lake City Temple, fasting and praying, to move the family yet again, but to Provo Utah with help from his dear friend Zeke. In Provo, Jerry returned to BYU so he could finish his bachelor’s degree. Jerry graduated from BYU with his bachelor’s degree in 1971. At this time, he accepted a position in the purchasing department for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Jerry worked as a contract negotiator for 24 years and was renowned by many for mastering his profession. Jerry was known to negotiate in a no-nonsense manner while also being respected as kind and fair in all his dealings. This is where the blunt edge of frugality he learned early on, truly sharpened into perfectly honed skill. Jerry was known for wielding this perfect weapon in his personal life as well, negotiating for cheaper prices and service at any store he entered. If Jerry’s demands were not met, he would simply make his egress. After retirement, Jerry and Dixie moved from their home in Orem to Heber City, Utah, where they lived for almost 30 years. Jerry was an avid sports fan and loved BYU and the Utah Jazz. Talking to others about the sports was a favorite past time for him. Jerry loved woodworking and making custom carved and painted signs that decorated his home. Jerry loved to hunt, shoot and reload. Jerry loved loading up and heading out to shoot targets and test his latest reloading recipe he developed from his reloading shed with a handmade wooden sign above the door that said “Kaboom”. You would often see and hear Jerry coming down the road, driving his Polaris ranger with a shovel in the bed. Jerry loved to play the guitar and even spent some time in a band in his younger days, he even built his own guitar. Jerry had a love for the written word, anything from Mark Twain to the Book of Mormon. Jerry was an unwaveringly faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Jerry had numerous callings in the church such as a counselor in the Bishopric in Orem, a high counselor and many more but his favorite calling was serving a senior mission with his sweetheart and mission companion Dixie in the Minneapolis Minnesota Mission. Jerry loved the Book of Mormon, this inspired hours of research and binders containing his findings and revelations. He read and taught his children and grandchildren its value and would often bore his testimony of its truth. Everyone knew that Jerry, our dad and grandpa was immovable and uncompromising in his testimony of the divinity of Jesus Christ and his devotion to the principles of the gospel. Jerry’s unwavering knowledge and testimony is what gives us hope, peace, and some comfort at his loss. We all know in our hearts, that this is see you soon and not, goodbye.
Jerry is proceeded in death by his parents, one brother, Kenneth Surratt and grandson Brandon Coombs. Jerry is survived by his wife Dixie, as well their three children, Ginger Fisher (Darren) of Orem, David Surratt (DeNese) of Heber City and Toni Coombs (Joe) of Heber City, eight grandchildren Jason Coombs, Nicole Johnson, Meghan Pierce, Josh Surratt, Lauren Moser, Nate Surratt, Bryn McEwan, and Becca Kennedy and 22 great-grandchildren.
For those unable to attend the service in person, the family has made available a Zoom broadcast:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87356070977
Meeting ID: 873 5607 0977
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