Walter Jerry Bybee

After eight long years of waiting at the rainbow bridge, Jerry's dog Reggie was finally able to welcome his beloved human this past week after Jerry passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family. He died of complications caused by multiple strokes starting in September 2015. Jerry worked hard to recover his health, but in the end his body just gave out. Now that they are together, we hope that Jerry and Reggie will be able once again to do all the things they love.

Jerry was married to Mary Bovee. They divorced. Later, he married Sophia Hanson. Jerry and Mary had three children, Jason, Billi and Danni. Together Jerry and Sophia raised Thomas, Whitney and their youngest daughter, Theo. Jerry had three grandchildren from his first marriage and an additional four grandchildren through his second marriage, one of whom was his "little buddy," Ethan, who loved his "Poppa" so much.

Jerry was instrumental in the lives of many of his children's friends. He was their friend, too, but he was also a father figure. Jerry's Monday night dinners for his children and their friends were the stuff that urban legends are made of. His spaghetti and grilled pork loins were famous, and it was a rare Monday night that less than thirty or so hungry young people showed up. Jerry often joked that he had been called a lot of names during his lifetime, and that he answered to all of them. However, the truth is that his favorite was "Dad."

He loved summer. For many years he started the "boating countdown," on January 21st, and he and his boat, Lil Red, would be on the water at Flaming Gorge, a week before Memorial Day, if he could manage it and the weather cooperated. Together, he, his family and Reggie would cruise through Horseshoe Canyon. He'd often say that the worst day of boating was better than the best day of anything else.

Jerry worked in the car business his entire adult life. It was a business he loved with his whole heart, and he gave it his best. He often said he was lucky to find something he loved and was good at so early in his life.

Jerry is survived by his partner, best friend and the love of his life, Sophie; his two sisters, Marilyn and Shanna; his six children, his grandchildren, and extended family and friends.

We will all miss Jerry so much. He was a good man, which interestingly enough was all that he aspired to be. Mission accomplished, Bybs.