Gerald Mayne

Gerald “Jerry” Childs Mayne died Aug. 28, 2021, after a long and adventurous life that began in a small mining town and ended surrounded by fellow military veterans. Jerry was born Sept. 25, 1939, in Gilman, Colorado, to George Virl and Thelma Childs Mayne.

Brought up in a sheep-ranching family, Jerry found his life’s work and enduring interest in turning wrenches on his own cars and later helicopters as crew chief/aerial gunner in the U.S. Marine Corps.

In 1961 Jerry married Alveda Bertroch, and they began a devoted partnership that sweetened each other’s lives. They raised Laurena and Gerald Wayne in stations around the country. Alveda was Jerry’s cheerleader not only at Eagle Valley High School, but throughout his life.

Jerry was proud to serve two full tours in Vietnam and additional classified missions.

After Marine Corps retirement as a Gunnery Sergeant, Jerry and Alveda followed family to Palisade, where they founded enterprises including horseshoeing, trucking, and firewood sales. After fully retiring, they hunted, fished, traversed the Grand Mesa on horseback, doted on their grandkids, and made good friends at the Grand Junction Trap Club.

Through his example, Jerry taught his children and grandchildren many lessons: the integrity of duty, how to teach yourself anything from a manual, the chaotic fun of a houseful of pets, and the exclamation “godfrey!”

Jerry’s family is ever-grateful to the staff and residents of the Veterans Community Living Center at Rifle, where Jerry’s enthusiastic rendition of the “Marines’ Hymn” probably still reverberates in their memories.

Jerry is preceded in death by his parents and brothers Kenneth and Karl Mayne. He is missed and remembered always by Alveda, Laurena (Scott Davis), Jerry (Chris); brothers Bob (Joy) and Dick (Luanne); sisters-in-law Janet (Karl) Mayne, Annie Struble, Loyette Bertroch, and Susan Bertroch; grandkids Chance, Piper, and Isabel Davis and Jerry John and Jack Mayne; and numerous nieces, nephews, and shirttail relatives to whom he was a fun Uncle Jerry.

A service in the committal shelter at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado, 2930 Riverside Parkway, Grand Junction, will be at 1 p.m. Sept. 8.