Jerald Leatham

Our hearts are sad as our family announces that our loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, Jerald Leatham, passed away peacefully in his home on August 27, 2016, after giving his all in his battle with cancer.



Jerry was born December 29, 1935, to William and Freda Leatham.  He grew up in Shelley where he worked hard on his father’s farm and played hard, too, with his brother, sister, and cousins. He loved his childhood vacations to Yellowstone National Park and to go fishing. He went to school in Shelley and graduated from Shelley High School after serving as Student Body President.



He attended college at the University of Idaho where he graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering.  He then went to work at what is now known as the INL.  He later went to night school and earned his MBA, also from the University of Idaho.



On August 12, 1960, he married Zona Polson in Shelley.  They made their home first in Shelley, then Blackfoot, and eventually in Idaho Falls.  They had three children, and as a family they loved summer vacations to the Oregon coast and to southern California, weekends at the cabin in Island Park, and snowmobiling, camping, and boating as often as possible.



Upon his retirement, after 37 years at the INL, he and Zona continued to travel, visiting Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand, and cruising in the Caribbean.  They also spent much of their retirement years traveling between the cabin in Island Park and the condo in Mesquite, Nevada, and especially enjoyed the times they traveled to South Carolina to be with their grandchildren, their daughter and her husband.



Jerry loved reading and learning at every chance that was presented, and his family went to him often for his advice and wisdom.  He loved any time he could spend with his children and grandchildren. His main winter hobby for several years was building dollhouses, and he will be sweetly remembered in these treasures that he left us.



He is survived by his wife, Zona Leatham; three children, Troy (Becky) Leatham, Tamara (Robert) Bailey, and Tracie (Matt) Harriell; and his sister, Myrna Osterhout.  He is also survived by ten grandchildren and three great grandchildren.



He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Billy Leatham.



The family would like to thank One Source Hospice for their loving care.



A viewing will be held Wednesday, August 31, from 6:00-7:30 p.m. and Thursday, September 1, from 9:30-10:40 a.m. at Nalder Funeral Home, 110 W Oak Street, in Shelley.  Funeral services will be Thursday, September 1, at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home.  Interment will be at Taylor Cemetery.