Washington, UT – Gerald “Jerry” Lee Nelson, 95, passed away peacefully in his home on October 29, 2026; in Washington, Utah. He was born on March 18, 1931, to Joseph Hunter Nelson and Maurine Cox Nelson, in Cedar City, Utah.

He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Jerry grew up in Cedar City, Utah; his mother passed away when he was 14 years old. He spent most of his summers on Cedar Mountain herding sheep for his father at their ranch. He had to take on a lot of responsibility at a young age. He loved fly fishing and hunting.

While attending Cedar High School he met his sweetheart, Marie Warren; he was on the football team and she was a cheerleader. They fell in love and were married June 21,1948. They lived in Cedar City where they made many lifetime friends. He held down several jobs at a time early on in their marriage. Eventually Jerry was hired at the Columbia Iron Mines at Desert Mound. This was a wonderful blessing for him and his growing family. When the mines closed, Jerry gained employment with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Cedar City, later transferring to the St. George office. During those years with the BLM, Jerry served many years on summer fire call locally, as well as frequently in Alaska and the Northwest States.

He commuted for several years to St. George for his work each day. Finally, in 1970, Jerry and Marie built a home in the City of Washington. They lived in Cedar City from 1948-1970. They were blessed with three sons: Keith, Kay, and Kurt.

In Washington, Jerry found great pleasure in growing a wonderful vegetable garden, always in abundance to share with his family and friends. He had a green thumb and took great care of his roses, fruit and nut trees, grapes, etc. He became very knowledgeable about horticulture.

He followed the generational call of shepherding after he retired from the BLM in 1994 and spent a lot of time on Cedar Mountain watching over his sheep. He and Marie loved to travel the world, especially the Panama Canal and Alaska Cruises with friends and family.

Jerry is preceded in death by his parents Joseph Hunter and Maurine Cox, brother Rex Bengt, son Kay Hunter, and great-granddaughter Ashley Ann. He was married to his sweetheart for 69+ years before she passed away in 2018. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Cedar City, LDS Temple on February 3, 2022.

He is survived by his sister Joann Dalton, sons Keith (Evelyn), Kurt (Tricia), 12 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and 27 great-great-grandchildren.

The family would like to thank the staff on Zion Way Home Health and Hospice for their loving care.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the Washington Telegraph Chapel, 600 E. Telegraph St. Washington Utah. A visitation will be held prior to the services from 9:00-9:45 a.m. at the church. Interment to follow services. Interment will be in the Cedar City Utah Cemetery.

*A Big thank you to his morning friends and our sweet Cheryl Smith for your friendship and care for our father.