Jerry Proutt

June 12, 1932 – May 17, 2020

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Jerry was born Jerome Miller Proutt to Thomas & Leah (Miller) Proutt in Annapolis, Maryland on June 12, 1932. He was raised in rural Maryland by his mother and his grandmother, Grace Miller.

Jerry attended Washington College in Chesterton, Maryland, from 1951 to 1953, where he met and fell in love with Alba Jane (AJ) Carr. He served active duty in the U.S. Navy from 1953 to 1956. He and AJ married in Baltimore on February 26, 1955, while he was on leave. After he completed his Naval service, they moved out west to Seattle, Washington, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Forestry from the University of Washington. Jerry played Varsity Lacrosse in both high school and college, and his 1951 undefeated high school team was recently inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at St. Paul’s School in Maryland!

Jerry & AJ welcomed their first daughter, Marcia Louise in 1959. Jerry started his Forestry career that same year in Port Angeles, Washington.

They relocated to Vancouver, Washington in 1961, where their second daughter, Nanci Lynn was born. Jerry served as a Forester and Soil Scientist for 31 years with the USDA Soil Conservation Service, in various Oregon locations including Salem, Gold Beach, Roseburg and Hillsboro. Jerry and AJ became thrilled grandparents to Alex in 1993!

Jerry retired in 1995, and he and AJ moved to Port Townsend, Washington, where they built their final home overlooking the Straits of Juan De Fuca.

Jerry enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, local history, attending his daughters’ horse & school events, playing & visiting with his grandson Alex, drinking beer with friends while watching Seahawks games, and watching the marine wildlife at his home.

Jerry was preceded in death by AJ’s sudden passing in early 2015, just one month before their 60th wedding anniversary. He is survived by his beloved daughters Marci (husband Randy), Nancy (fiancé Fred), and his cherished grandson, Alex.

Jerry slipped away peacefully from heart failure on Sunday afternoon, May 17, 2020, surrounded by his loving family at his home, as he so clearly wished to do. We are so grateful for Jefferson Healthcare Hospice and our dear friends for their care and support during Jerry’s final journey.

We will celebrate Jerry’s life with friends & family hopefully this summer outside on his beloved property (when it’s safe to gather again), where his ashes will be scattered over the bluff to join those of AJ’s.

 

~ Happy walking in onshore breezes, Jerry ~