M. Jeryl Gotch

M. Jeryl Gotch, 82, of Ammon and former Shelley resident passed away February 23, 2015 at Life Care Center in Idaho Falls.

He was born December 5, 1932 in Jameston, Idaho to Adolph Gotch and Eva Arave Gotch.

He married Mary Hjelm, in Shelley, October 13, 1956.

He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Jeryl worked for Simplot, RT French’s Co. and Pillsbury for 38 years as a plant supervisor.  He has many friends still working at the plant in Shelley.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Gotch, his children, Bee Ramos (Mondo) of Shelley, Mark Gotch (Penny) of Shelley, his grandchildren, Tyler Olsen (Heather) of Shelley, Jared Olsen (Timanee) of Idaho Falls, Kaitlin Gotch of Corbin, KY, Kristin Gotch (Todd) of Spokane, WA, his six great-grandchildren, and his two brothers, Noel Gotch of Shelley and Neldon Gotch of Jameston.  He was preceded in death by his mother, his father, four sisters, and two brothers.

Jeryl loved to travel. When he was healthy, he would take his grandchildren on summer road trips in his Buick Park Avenue, to California, Disneyland, or Washington.  He introduced them to the open deserts of Utah and Nevada, to eclectic truck stop restaurants and diners—places with the best pancakes, the best biscuits and gravy.  He appreciated the scenery just as much as the people he would find along the way, those he’d stop to talk to about the weather, about a baseball score, about anything.  He was friendly, easy-going.  He loved spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

If you knew Jeryl Gotch, you know he loved baseball, especially the New York Yankees.  He played left-field and catcher on the RT French’s softball team.  He loved to fish from riverbanks and lakeshores, despite his unyielding fear of water.  When he was younger, he rode horses in the foothills near Jameston.  The image is as clear as a scene from one of the John Wayne movies he loved.  He was a kind of John Wayne—tall, a bit surly at times.   He was strong, determined.  He was a man we loved—a man who loved us, his family, above all else.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, February 26, 2015 at the Shelley First Ward Chapel (184 North Park Ave.).  The family will receive friends Wednesday evening from 6:00 till 8:00 P.M. at Nalder Funeral Home (110 West Oak) in Shelley and Thursday morning from 9:30 till 10:45 A.M. at the church.  Burial will be in the Shelley Hillcrest Cemetery.