Gerald (Jerry) Anthony Vallejos (63) passed away August 9, 2018 surrounded by his family and friends at his home in Roy, Ut. He was born June 13, 1955 in Santé Fe, New Mexico to Richard D. Vallejos and Verna Lujan. Jerry attended Buras High School in Louisiana.
He later enlisted in the U.S. Army on June 21st 1972, just a few weeks after his 17th birthday. Jerry completed basic training at Fort Polk Louisiana and trained to be a Medical Corpsman at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, TX. He was stationed at the 30th Field Hospital USAREUR-Germany.
He received a national defense service medal – good conduct medal, expert grenade marksmanship badge and sharpshooter marksmanship rifle badge. While stationed in Germany, Jerry was diagnosed with Non-hodgkins lymphoma and transferred back to Brooke Army Medical Center in the states only this time as a patient in their cancer ward. He received an honorable discharge from the Army.
After almost a year at BAMC his cancer went into remission, this wouldn’t be the first or the last time he stared death in the face. Anyone who knew Jerry knew he was a fighter. He would laugh in death’s face several times throughout his life, the only difference this time is he missed his dear wife and was ready to make the journey home in the arms of our heavenly father to once again be reunited with his one true love.
Jerry met the love of his life, Wendy Erma Calvert, after moving from Louisiana to Utah. They had one daughter together, Jamie Nicole Vallejos, and were later married in 1989. They spent well over 30 years by each other’s side until her passing on December 7th 2013.
This year would have been their 29th wedding anniversary. Jerry’s hobbies include playing bass and lead guitar, singing, playing the harmonica and anything that pertained to music, heavy metal ran through his veins. He was a jack of all trades, learning and perfecting every skill that crossed his path.
He was also an avid gun collector, fisherman, motorcycle and cars enthusiast, especially when it came to Corvette’s and choppers. He was the life of the party, telling jokes, discussing music, guns, cars or preaching the gospel and spending time with his family. Jerry could connect with almost anyone he met, he was a social butterfly and could talk for hours on end about anything.
Jerry worked as an electrician at FMC Jetway and took an early retirement due to his health. Later on in Jerry’s life he converted from Southern Baptist and became a member of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints while living in Sunset, UT. Jerry’s favorite calling was when he served as ward missionary.
During this time Jerry would also go with a fellow church member to the prison to lead Sunday services for the inmates. Jerry is survived by his daughter, Jamie Nicole Vallejos; son, Shaine Anthony Smith(Vallejos) of TX; two beautiful granddaughters; Yesenia Isabella Vallejos (UT) and Kayleigh Shaine Locklear (NC); Mother, Verna Lujan of UT; Sisters Teri Vallejos (UT) and Priscilla Dow Popham (LA); Brother Lawrence “Lil Larry” Dow (Juanita) of TX. Jerry was preceded in death by his wife, Wendy Vallejos; sister, Gwendolyn “Bubbles” Vallejos; and brother Mark Dow.
Funeral services will be held at the 4th ward LDS Church 5301 S 2100 W, Roy, UT at 12:00 pm. Following church services there will be military honors and a wake will start at 1:00 pm at the families residence, 2184 W 5500 S, Roy, UT. In lieu of flowers the family ask that donations are made to help ease the financial burden his daughter has been left with while taking care of her father over the last 2yrs.
Donations can be made at First National Bank of Clearfield to Gerald/Jamie Vallejos’s joint account or by emailing jnvallej@gmail.com for a link to a Facebook donation account.
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