Gerald Childs "Jerry" Mayne
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 3C - September 5, 2021
Gerald “Jerry”
Childs Mayne
September 25, 1939 - August 28, 2021
Gerald “Jerry” Childs
Mayne died August 28,
2021, after a long and
adventurous life that began
in a small mining town
and ended surrounded by
fellow military veterans.
Jerry was born
September 25, 1939, in
Gilman, Colorado, to
George Virl and Thelma
Childs Mayne.
Brought up in a sheepranching family, Jerry
found his life’s work and
enduring interest in turning
wrenches on his own cars
and later helicopters as
crew chief/aerial gunner in the U.S. Marine Corps.
In 1961 Jerry married Alveda Bertroch, and they
began a devoted partnership that sweetened each other’s
lives. They raised Laurena and Gerald Wayne in stations
around the country. Alveda was Jerry’s cheerleader not
only at Eagle Valley High School, but throughout his
life.
Jerry was proud to serve two full tours in Vietnam
and additional classified missions.
After Marine Corps retirement as a Gunnery
Sergeant, Jerry and Alveda followed family to Palisade,
where they founded enterprises including horseshoeing,
trucking, and firewood sales. After fully retiring, they
hunted, fished, traversed the Grand Mesa on horseback,
doted on their grandkids, and made good friends at the
Grand Junction Trap Club.
Through his example, Jerry taught his children and
grandchildren many lessons: the integrity of duty, how
to teach yourself anything from a manual, the chaotic
fun of a houseful of pets, and the exclamation “godfrey!”
Jerry’s family is ever-grateful to the staff and residents
of the Veterans Community Living Center at Rifle,
where Jerry’s enthusiastic rendition of the “Marines’
Hymn” probably still reverberates in their memories.
Jerry is preceded in death by his parents and brothers,
Kenneth and Karl Mayne. He is missed and remembered
always by Alveda, Laurena (Scott Davis), Jerry (Chris);
brothers, Bob (Joy) and Dick (Luanne); sisters-in-law,
Janet (Karl) Mayne, Annie Struble, Loyette Bertroch,
and Susan Bertroch; grandkids, Chance, Piper, and
Isabel Davis and Jerry John and Jack Mayne, and
numerous nieces, nephews, and shirttail relatives to
whom he was a fun Uncle Jerry.
A service in the committal shelter at the Veteran’s
Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado, 2930
Riverside Parkway, Grand Junction, will be at 1:00 p.m.
September 8.
John
