Gerald Whitecar Wolfley

1929 - 2024

Gerald Whitecar Wolfley

July 11, 1929 - November 6, 2024

Vancouver, Washington - Gerald Whitecar Wolfley ('Jerry') graduated to the next life on November 6, 2024, at the age of 95. He was born July 11, 1929, in Afton, Wyoming, to Alma Edward and Ruth Evelyn Whitecar Wolfley. He grew up helping his father on the farm, milking and feeding their cattle, taking care of all the other farm animals, as well as helping his mother in the family store. He liked to fish and hunt when he had free time.

Jerry attended Star Valley High School from 1944-1948 and worked during the summers for the Forest Service. He worked as a Lineman on a bug spraying crew, then a firefighting crew, and fire spotter from a lookout station on Deadline Ridge, Wyoming.

In 1948, he moved to Logan, Utah, to attend Utah State University (USU) where he majored in Agriculture Management, minored in Military Science and was in ROTC. After graduating from college, in 1952, he joined the Air Force and flew all over the world as a Top-Secret Courier during the Korean War. Following his active duty, Jerry returned to USU for graduate work. He met Jean Ricks who was also attending USU and they were married in 1955 in the Logan, Utah, LDS temple. He also continued serving in the Air Force Reserves until he retired in 1989, as a Major, after nearly 40 years of service.

After several jobs, moves, and the birth of a daughter, Janet, and a son, Steven, they moved to Washington state. Another son, Brent, and daughter, Lisa, were born in Othello, Washington. Jerry worked for 10 years in Othello supervising sugar beet fields for U & I Sugar Company.

The family moved to Pasco, Washington, in 1970 when he was promoted into a U & I Sugar subsidiary, the Prior Land Company, where he managed the development of 50,000 acres of irrigated crop lands. While there, he gained a talent and love for land development. In 1974, he became manager of the Natural Resources Division of Burlington Northern Railroad, overseeing the development of raw land into irrigated farmland on a mass scale. After 16 years, he was commissioned to sell the railroad land that he'd been managing. When the sale was complete, he retired and started his own business in farmland consulting.

As a side project, he developed land on the hill above the Pasco airport transitioning his own farmland into residential housing. Jerry and Jean built a home there in 2005 and his favorite pastime in his later years was sitting on the porch watching the planes come and go.

Jerry and Jean took their family on countless local outings which included fishing, boating, waterskiing on the Columbia and Snake Rivers, and camping in the Blue Mountains. They also took many clam digging and salmon fishing trips on the Washington coast.

In his 70's, Jerry joined the gym at the Columbia Basin College and made many new friends who also enjoyed boating and fishing.

Jerry was a life-long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He worked several years with the Boy Scouts and the Laotian Integration Programs. He also served on high councils, bishoprics, and in many other positions.

This past August 2024, after living in Pasco for 54 years, Jerry and Jean moved to an assisted living home in Vancouver, Washington, to be close to their daughter, Lisa.

Of all his accomplishments, he will be most remembered as an extraordinary husband (married 79 years) and father, with a lasting legacy of 18 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his baby sisters Myrna Ilean and Ruth Elaine and brother James Rudolf, his parents, older sister Evelyn Mae, and older brother Alma Darwin. He leaves behind his sweetheart, Jean, and 4 children - Janet (Robert) Brown, Mayfield, Utah, Steven (Jolene) Wolfley, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Brent (Melanie) Wolfley, Layton, Utah, and Lisa (Robert) Stocks, Battle Ground, Washington.

All County Burial in Vancouver, Washington, will handle arrangements.

Graveside service and burial will be at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon, November 26, 2024.