Gerald Eugene Lucas

Gerald Eugene Lucas, 83, of Bend, Oregon, passed away peacefully on September 18, 2022, with his family by his side. Jerry was born in Turlock, California. During his childhood he moved around to many places with his parents, Kenneth and Louise Lucas. His favorite place was at his grandparents Gus and Mary Taylor's home in Turlock. He has fond memories of helping to harvest and can the produce from their large garden. He has stories of fishing with his dad and grandfather at East Lake, and of his mother canning the fish there at the campsite. Jerry attended Sacramento State College on an athletic scholarship for football and track and field, graduating in 1961 with a degree in Park Management. He married Peggy, his wife of 60 years, on September 1, 1962. Jerry worked for the Oregon State Parks for 30 years, retiring at the age of 55. He began his career in Newport where he and Peggy started out living in the Blue Bonnet Motel. From there they moved to Gold Hill and then Viento State Parks. After that they moved to Harris Beach, where Stefani was born in 1965. Jerry then was promoted to Park Ranger at the Cove Palisades State Park, where Susie ('68) and Shelly ('70) were born. Jerry and Peggy lived in this scenic canyon for 3 years when they moved to Silver Creek Falls State Park outside of Salem. The family has many happy memories playing in the forests and hiking around the waterfalls in this part of Oregon. They had a brief stint at Fort Stevens State Park near Astoria before Jerry was promoted to Supervisor of Region 4, headquartered in Bend. He moved his family here to Central Oregon in 1976, decided it was a great place to raise a family, and put down roots. Jerry was a gifted woodworker, homebuilder, athlete and outdoorsman. He loved to camp with his three daughters, taking them on yearly fishing trips to local Cascade Lakes. He made sure they knew how to clean fish, stack wood, make a fire, and cook steaks over the coals (rare, of course). He took his family on yearly camping trips to the Cove Palisades, where his daughters learned to waterski, and where he and Peggy also "cut it up" with style behind the Pacific Mariner. For many years he hunted deer and elk with his brother Keith and other good friends. He was a regular at Juniper Golf Course for more than 40 years, golfing with a group of friends who call themselves the Grumps. Jerry loved to watch sports, his favorites being football, baseball, golf, and track. He was the kind of grandpa who attended every sporting event in which his grandkids participated. Jerry built three beautiful homes here in Bend, two of them log homes. He did most of the work himself-he could lay foundations, frame, wire and plumb homes, build beautiful doors and cabinets, build rock fireplaces, build rock walls and pole fences, install underground sprinkler systems and landscaping, and build beautiful decks and railings. If you saw his homes, you knew he could build anything and you knew it was always well-done, lasting, and beautiful. He was an exceptional cabinet and furniture builder, building dressers and beds for his grandchildren. Jerry's shop was always a fun place for his kids and grandkids to play, hammering nails and sawing bits of scrap lumber. He'd build a fire in the woodstove and they would watch him work. Jerry was a good man, a loving husband, a great dad and father-in-law, and a wonderful grandpa. He taught us to work hard, pay our debts, and return borrowed things in good condition. He expected us to be smart and to take responsibility for our actions. He was a role model for us, and will continue to live on in our hearts. He loved more than anything to spend time with his family, and above all else, he will be remembered for his love of family and friends. Jerry is predeceased by his parents, Kenneth and Louise Lucas, his brother Tom, and his youngest daughter, Shelly. He is survived by his wife Peggy; daughter Stefani (Garrett) Roseberry and Susie (Darrin) Wittwer; grandchildren Lane (Reed), Christian (Piper), Quinn, Jesse, Josh, and Lucie; great-grandson Connor; siblings Keith (Kathy) Lucas, Marc (Kathy) Lucas, and Kimberly Lucas, as well as many loved nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held in his honor on Saturday, Oct. 1, 1 pm at the Bend Church of the Nazarene.

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Gerald Eugene Lucas

July 26, 1939 - September 18, 2022