Jerry Dee Grover, 87, of Spanish Fork, passed away March 6, 2019. Jerry was born in Ririe, Idaho on Nov 29, 1931, the son of Ursel LeRoy Grover and Alice Amelda Hutchens Grover. He married Shirley Jean Kesinger on Sept 23, 1954, in the Logan Utah Temple.
Jean passed away suddenly in 1969 leaving Jerry with 6 children including newborn twin boys. Jerry subsequently met and married Kay S. Crockett in 1970. They were later sealed in the Provo Utah Temple and the family eventually grew into a “yours, mine and ours” family of 15 children.
Jerry attended schools in Ririe and continued his education at Utah State University in Logan, Utah where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He later enrolled at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah where he obtained a PhD with a specialty in Industrial and Technical Education. He began his career as a high school teacher and in 1960 took a position in Laie, Hawaii at the new Church College of Hawaii (currently BYU-Hawaii).
He was instrumental in the startup and organization of the Industrial Arts program there. After receiving his doctorate degree at Brigham Young University, the family relocated to Provo where he was a professor in the Industrial and Technical Education College at BYU for many years. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served as a missionary in the Eastern States Mission.
He held many callings throughout his life, most recently as an officiator at the Payson Utah Temple. Jerry and Kay served two missions together: the Harrisburg Pennsylvania Mission and the Polynesian Cultural Center Mission in Laie, Hawaii. The size of the family did not stop him from taking them on travel adventures where camping, hiking and boating were often involved.
After retirement, he traveled to many parts of the world with his wife, sons, daughters and their families. Jerry was a good, humble man who endured many trials and hardships throughout his life with strength and faith in our Heavenly Father. He loved and supported each of his 15 children.
His smile and the twinkle in his eye will be missed by all. Jerry is survived by his wife, Kay S. Grover; children: Debra Hawkes (Mark), Amy Grover, Jeff Crockett (Lori), Guy Crockett (Tami), Kelly Crockett (Bob), Carrie Perucca (Ken), Jerry Grover Jr., Tracy Crockett (Gale), Keith Grover (Julie), Kenneth Grover (Ruth), Stewart Grover (Jennifer), Shawny Taysom, Shad Grover and Chase Grover; sisters: Donna Kirby Hammon and Bonnie Anderson; and brothers: Reo (Helen) Grover and Jack (Roberta) Grover, forty-seven grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; infant son Rex Kay Grover; sisters: Ruth Hudson, Amber Lovell, Zola Rhone, Merle Driggs and Martha Lee; and brothers: Rex Grover, Blaine Grover and Arlo Grover.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, March 11, 2019 at the Spanish Fork 5th Ward building located at 1006 East 200 South, Spanish Fork, UT. Viewings will be on Sunday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on Monday from 9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at the church. Burial will be at the Provo City Cemetery following the services.
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