Jerry L. Carson
September 8, 1935 – December 9, 2022

There will be a celebration of life for Jerry Carson on January 14 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Rio Dell Fire Hall. Drop in anytime to laugh, cry with us, share a story, have some food and beverage and honor our husband and dad and grandpa, Jerry Carson.

Jerry, Dad, Papa Jer, the Rev and a few other not so nice nicknames was born in Oakland, Oregon on September 8, 1935. Most of his childhood was spent in the Marysville and Brownsville areas of California. He helped his dad build a sawmill that provided lumber for the Diamond Match company. He was raised off and on by Elmer and Myrtle Cratty, his maternal grandparents whom he loved with all his heart for the stability and spirituality they provided to him.

Swearing 100 percent that he had no part in the high school prank that prevented him from walking across stage for his graduation at Lodi academy he quit school a month early and took a job at a broom factory where he met a lifelong friend, Amos Bartlett. At some point dad left the broom factory and found himself in Humboldt County, where he eventually landed a job with Pacific Lumber Company. He worked in the woods, the sawmill and eventually in to the machine shop, where he worked as a welder for over 35 years. He retired at age 62 after 45 years of employment. While working in the machine shop he met “his son” as he called him, Guybo lamb. They were friends and co-workers for decades. Guybo was very good at visiting faithfully and harassing my dad…..just like a real son would do. Dad was very proud of the longevity he held with the company. He always said he wouldn’t have been able to build the home he loved without Palco. Both because of the wage he earned, but also because of all the building supplies he pilfered from Palco with the help his good friend and partner in crime, Mike Eglin.

It was during his lunch break from PL one day that he wandered in to a little café in Rio Dell and the rest, as they say … is history. For this is where he met his “little blue-eyed darling” Sandra Sue Houseworth at Aunt Bessie’s café, where she was a waitress. After a road trip to Reno with my dad’s mom, they were married on March 26, 1953. They then came clean to my grandma that my mom was “not quite” the 18 they had led her to believe for which she then pulled the car over and made my mom have the ”come to Jesus” phone call to her parents. We loved holding this over mom and dad’s head whenever we were told we weren’t “old enough” to do something. It rarely worked but was just so fun to rub in. March will mark 70 years of marriage for Jer and Sue.

The pride dad had for his home was nothing compared to the pride, peace and happiness that he found at his “most holy place,” Ruth Lake. When his then son-in-law Mike Gillam first saw the 20 foot run-down trailer with 8 flat tires, he could not believe that dad said they were going to tow (drag) that trailer the five miles to the property. To Mike’s horror and surprise they did tow it there. Dad continually added improvements to his place to make it his home away from home. Whether it was weekends with his family, quail hunting with his friends, handcuffing said friends to the deck in the snow, totally cheating during fishing tournaments or spending time around the campfire with highballs, cigars and friends and family, there really was nothing else that gave him such happiness. One evening after a sunset cocktail cruise on the pontoon boat he said this, “I was sitting on that boat and I looked around and saw my beautiful wife, and family, the sun was setting, I had my highball and my cigar and I thought I have everything I need right here except for Louie Armstrong singing “it’s a wonderful world”. And indeed he truly did have it all.

His other source of true contentment and happiness were the many, many, many hunting and Jeep trips to Rainbow Ranch, Nevada, Alturas and of course Wyoming with his beloved lab “Baggs.” The tails, adventures, mishaps and things that really should have stayed in Vegas, (and yes there are pictures to prove it) gave him years of joy in the re-telling and embellishing these trips. Dennis Jones, Mike Eglin, Frank Bryant, Dave Gilmore, Wayne Swanson, Harry Dibble, Bob Woodson & Lon Lyman, we thank you for the years of friendship, many adventures, one or two arguments and most of all the love you gave to dad. You were not just his friends you were his family.

We truly cannot thank all of our family, friends, church members and community members for their prayers and support during this time. Thank you for the visits, flowers and food. Thank you Hospice of Humboldt for giving us the tools and information we needed to make his last couple of days comfortable and peaceful for him. All he wanted was to pass at home, facing the view he loved so much. You helped us give him that. His wife Sue will continue to watch over their two daughters, six grandchildren, 13 great-grand children and one great-great grandchild on the way.

Rest in peace Papa Jer and as always, “Get In, Sit-Down, Buckle Up and Shut-Up.”

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Jerry Carson’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.