During our lifetimes we on occasions have the good fortune to meet memorable people with whom we share special experiences. Sometimes these good fortunes result in lifelong friendships. Jerry was one of those people for me.
From Texas and North Dakota we met in the far away location of Avery, Idaho. I know you have seen the pictures and heard the stories from the summer of 1962-1963. If you see the picture of 4 guys sitting on top of the St. Joe Forest sign, that’s Jerry, the Taylor brothers and me. At the end of that summer in 1963 I missed my ride back to North Dakota because I had been dispatched on a fire. Jerry and the other Texas boys kindly gave me a ride to Billing, Montana from where they headed south and I caught a train back to North Dakota. That departure kept us apart until 2008.
Before modern day communications Jerry and I maintained a long distance friendship via phone and occasional greeting cards. While passing through the Dallas Fort Worth Airport I called Jerry several times.
In 2007 or 2008 Jerry and I began a dialog that resulted in my wife Sharon and me making a trip to Texas. It was a pleasure to meet you Linda, Subsequently Jerry and I and Jim Taylor made a trip to Avery Idaho in the summer of 2009. What a great reunion in the mountains of Idaho. The last time I saw Jerry was when he was in the Cleveland Clinic for a heart valve replacement. I don’t recall the year. Since that time we have kept in touch by phone perhaps 3 to 5 time per year.
I can say that Jerry was a friend for 59 great years.
As young men far away from home I always felt Jerry and I shared a common set of life’s values. Later in life I recall clearly how Jerry so often spoke fondly of both of you.
May you find comfort in know that Jerry loved you both dearly, and Chris he was very proud of you.
Respectfully,
George Gratz
