Gerald Martin Marlatt

Gerald Martin Marlatt was born in Gooding Idaho to Walter and Zetta Marlatt on January 3, 1927.  Jerrys Dad Walter passed away from Polio while Jerry was very young, Jerry looked up to his older brother Frances as a father figure.  They would spend as much time together as possible fishing and hunting.  Jerry was also a great athlete. He played basketball and football for Gooding High School.  That’s where he caught the eye of Dorothy Lee.  He was the older handsome athlete that she couldn’t help but fall in love with. They became high school sweethearts. During the time Dorothy was finishing school Jerry enlisted in the Army and was off to serve our country for 3 years as a rifleman.  They were married in 1948 shortly after he returned from the service.

They resided in Gooding where Linda and Gary were born within a few years of each other.  Jerry worked with his brother Frances and they had the Marlatt Plumbing Co.  They drove a red ford truck with their name proudly displayed on the side panel.  Jerry also volunteered at the Gooding Fire Dept.

After a few years Jerry moved his family to Pocatello.  He then joined the Pipefitter Union Local 648. Jerry always enjoyed this line of work and passed his passion for fiitting on to his sons as they followed in his footsteps.   Jerry was the recently awarded his 60-year pin as a union member.   He is the only one in the 648 to receive this honor. He was not very happy that he was the oldest living member. Jerry was also a proud member of The Masons for 50 years and the Elk’s.

Jerry and Dorothy began to add to their little family and had Berry and Cindy.  With a family of 6 Jerry was working as much as possible to make ends meet.  Dorothy decided to go work evenings at a nursing home to help with household expenses.   This might have helped their financial situation, but it gave the kids a little more time to find mischief. More on that later.

They had a neighborhood full of families and all the children grew up together.  The boys were constantly pushing their limits. These were they years that the Tucketts, the Whites and the Halls would become lifelong friends.  Whenever someone had a broken window, stolen ice cream or a horse in their backyard it was due to the antics of all the boys.  Jerry loved to take his boys hunting and fishing.  The family always enjoyed so many weekends camping with Larry and Johnie Guidenger and Bob and Carrie Ray.   They would take motor bikes and boats and all the kids would have a great time and enjoy the mountains.  Later they purchased -what we now call- the Po Folks lot in Island Park.  The lot is nestled next to Henry and Dixie Tuckett, Ted and Martha Wight, and Bob and Carrie Ray.  Home away from home.  These families have always been special to the Marlatt family.

Jerry and Dorothy were married for 63 beautiful years before Dorothy passed.  Their 4 children blessed them with 9 Grandchildren and 13 Great Grandchildren and 2 Great Great Grandchildren.  Over the past few years Jerry had become very special friends with Dee Binggeli.  Our family would like to thank her and know how much we appreciate her and her companionship. Dee you were a godsend.

Jerry Marlatt passed away on March 8th, 2020 surrounded by the people he loved most and on his terms.

Funeral services will be at 2:30pm Friday March 13, 2020 at Manning-Wheatley Funeral Chapel with a viewing starting at 1:00pm.  Interment will be in Mountainview Cemetery with Military Rites provided by the Pocatello Veterans Honor Guard.