Chester Clarence Creery and Julia Gabriella Johnson Creery welcomed a tiny baby boy into their home on February 13, 1932 in Alamosa, Colorado. At less than three pounds, their little miracle thrived and grew. He was the second of three children in the family along with a sister, Barbara, and a brother, Thomas.

He had interests that enriched and lasted a lifetime. He attributed the Boy Scouting program for saving his life and giving him a bright future. One night while walking home when he was twelve years old, he and some other boys who also lived on the south side of the tracks in Alamosa began busting every glass bottle they could find, scattering the glass in the streets. A policeman caught the boys and gave them a choice of punishments. Either they could pay a fine or they could join the Elk’s Lodge Boy Scout troop where he was the Scout Master. Dad joined the Boy Scouts, beginning a lifelong love of the program and the character building opportunities it gave him and his scouts. He remained a member for more than 70 years. Jerry was awarded the Silver Beaver, one of the highest awards given for exceptional service to that organization.

He graduated from Alamosa High School and Adams State College. He also joined the army while in college, but got sick and came home. He began college with the idea of being a teacher, but after student teaching, he decided he didn’t want to do that for the rest of his life, or ever. He focused his career on the finance industry and worked at Ziprodt Finance, Alamosa First National Bank, San Luis Valley Savings and Loan, and as the CEO of Bank West Industrial Banks, as well as several banks outside of the valley.

He married Jewel Gay Morgan on April 25, 1953. Instead of waiting for parent permission, the couple eloped to Taos, New Mexico. However, the couple remarried in front of family and friends two months later. They raised a family of five children: Donald Kay, Lidgea Leigh, Edward Clarence, Monti Gay, and Canda Jo. They have 28 grandchildren, 72 great-grand children with 2 more on the way, and 2 great-great grandchildren.

His family will remember him as a hard-working man with a large smile who loved to tell stories. If he could choose anything to do on a given day, it would have been fishing or hunting. In his final years, he enjoyed a good joke, watching westerns, and teasing the little children or just watching them play. Every day could be a good day if he had a Snickers bar and a Pepsi.

He served in many capacities for his church whenever asked: as a counselor to the bishop of his ward, as member of the high council, counselor in the stake presidency in the Manassa, Colorado Stake, and in a high council in a stake at Brigham Young University.

He was preceded in death by both of his parents, his sister, and two grandchildren.

Gerald Creery passed away quickly and peacefully the evening of March 23, 2018 in Spanish Fork, Utah. His funeral will be held on March 30, 2018 at the LDS Church in Sanford, Colorado with the viewing at 9:30 and the funeral starting at 11:00. He will be laid to rest in the Sanford Cemetery.

Rogers Family Mortuary of Alamosa is in care of the local arrangements. Online condolences, tributes and remarks for Gerald’s family may be left at www.RogersFunerals.com