Gary S. Juretich

I, Gary S. Juretich, no longer of sound mind or any body have graduated from this life. After 85 years of faithful service on Earth, I decided it was time to retire to the great beyond. And by "retire," I mean I finally found a place where I don't have to fix anything or remember all my passwords. Before they get me started on my afterlife Scout badges, I figured I’d tell one more story. My life story.

I was born in Murray, Utah to Swany and Jean Juretich. They came home one day with something screaming in a blanket and told me I was a brother. Donna became the biggest pain in my backside, and then the biggest piece of my heart. My sister and I were relentless with each other. All the energy we put into torturing each other as kids was then changed into games nights with our own kids and holidays bonding. She turned into the best present I didn’t know I wanted.

When I was 18, me and my buddy went to the grocery store for a cold soda. We saw 3 beautiful girls standing in the aisle and I said, “We should walk over there, throw a girl over our shoulder and take her out for a rootbeer.” He thought I was joking. Imagine his surprise when I walked up to the prettiest girl, threw her over my shoulder and started walking out. It was only matched by my own surprise to see the sheriff already in the parking lot. My now wife Sharon vouched for me even though she only knew my friend. Little did I know I walked into the rest of my life that day.

Sharon and I married, and I enlisted in the Army. Leaving our great little world behind, we moved to Olympia, Washington stationed at Fort Lewis. Away from everything and everyone we knew. I learned that Sharon could throw a frying pan like an Olympic shot putter. And she learned I could still carry her over my shoulder into an ice-cold shower for us both to calm down. We laughed so hard that day I think we both knew we were going to be okay.

We tried for years for our beautiful oldest daughter Alisa. Then two boys, Jeff and Mike, quickly popped out before we even had time to finish the laundry. Five years later we had our second surprise daughter Kaycee and another five years we had our youngest daughter, Jamie. One big plan and 4 little surprises led to a lifetime of loving the unknown and the sound of conversation and laughter from the other room. Equally loving the silence of bedtime.

I was always the most proud of the children I raised. Along the way I decided to do a few other things just in case they ended up on the news. I could at least say they got their bad behavior from their mother because I still had all of mine. I went to the U of U and Utah Technical College. I finished my degree after 50 to show the world there is no such thing as too late or unattainable.

I spent a lot of time in the Boy Scouts of America - not because I was trying to collect badges (though let’s be honest, I did look good in the uniform), but because helping young people grow into decent adults seemed like a solid use of my time. I tried to teach them how to build a fire, pitch a tent, and maybe not burn down the forest in the process. I even earned the Silver Beaver award. (Much to the hysterics of my kids' jokes.) Yet they all showed up and cheered like I won a nobel prize.

We were a rowdy bunch. If I wasn’t playing the piano, singing about “gloom, despair, and agony on me,” I was doing the chicken dance on my way outside to grow peas in my green house. Everyone in the family became an expert at finding them on the vine. The only thing I loved as much as picking peas with my family was picking up pennies and rocks. I walked with my head down so much I think I went bald from walking into things.

85 years and I did all the things. Husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, great-grandfather, step-grandfather? Check, check, and... surprise check! I married Sharon, the love of my life, and we stuck it out for 65 wonderful years. Telling jokes, making people smile wherever I could get a person to talk to for a few minutes, helping my neighbors, and showing every person, I met that they all deserved to be loved. I managed to bring 5 amazing children, 7 grandchildren, 6 claimed grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren and 2 claimed great grandchildren into our family.

I was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I did my best to walk the walk, hold the priesthood, and show my faith not just with words, but by showing up - for my family, my church, and anyone who needed a hand (or a ladder, or a ride, or a homemade tool that may or may not have been OSHA-approved).

I feel complete.

So, if you’re reading this and shedding a tear, wipe it off and go do something kind. Help someone out. Hug your family. Eat dessert first. I’m not around to nag you anymore, but I’m still rooting for you from the best seat in the house. Mom, Dad Carson and Samson I’m coming home.

Keep the campfire burning,

Gary