Obituary

Gerald Lawayne Gorham
February 27, 1944--March 16, 2025 (age 81)

Gerald (Jerry) L. Gorham of Pendleton, Oregon, died March 16, 2025 at the age of 81, born February 27, 1944 in Battle Creek, MI.

Jerry served in the Navy at 17. He was very proud of his 22 years of service. He was on 5 ships: USS Alamo LSD, USS Virgo Ammunition ship, USNS Chuavunet Oceanographic Unit, USS Florikan Submarine rescue ship, and USS Acadia and shore duty at Naval Communication Station Londonderry. He was also stationed at Northern Ireland, UK, Naval Commsta Stockton, CA, at Adak, Alaska, and NROTC Unit Ithaca, NY. He moved to Pendleton in the fall of 1982 after retiring. Jerry attended Blue Mountain Community College, receiving an Associate of Science Degree in Accounting.

He was a loving father, husband, and grandpa, always willing to drop what he was doing to take kids to the park or play ball. He would crawl into the back of the pickup truck so one of his daughters could ride in the front seat to save her nylons. He was a great girl dad. He loved facts, and trivia. Every year one of his kids would get him the yearly almanac as a Christmas present and he would read it.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents Glenn D and Ada Evans Gorham, two brothers Bill and Carl, sister Glenda Bunch, and one grandson, Elijah Huxel. He left his wife Jeanne Major Gorham of 58 years, daughters Dora Jeanne (David) DePugh, Rebecca (Brian) Huxel, Elizabeth (Bill) Bingman, Grandchildren Sharis (BJ) Colvin, Jarreth Bingham, Josh, Zach, Seth, Gabby, and Matt Huxel, and one great granddaughter, Willow Colvin.