Jerry Eugene Gulledge, 76

Jerry Eugene Gulledge, 76, of Eureka, passed away Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. He spent his last day on earth fishing with his grandson, which was his idea of a perfect day.

He was born April 24, 1946, in Rockingham, North Carolina, to Kathleen and Jack Gulledge. He spent his boyhood in North Carolina, until the family moved to San Diego when he was 8.

He graduated from Chula Vista High School in 1964. He had a passion for baseball and played all through high school, and had aspirations of playing pro, but instead enlisted in the Army in November of 1964. He trained to be a paratrooper and was shipped to Vietnam with the 173rd Airborne. He was there for 11 months, and upon returning home, spent time training other soldiers before leaving the Army. He enjoyed racing motorcycles, hunting and fishing in his youth, in Southern California.

Jerry and his family moved to Lakeside in 1977, where he worked and lived for a number of years, building and selling homes. He was a talented woodworker, often hand making all the cabinets for the homes he built. He took pride in his work. Jerry loved fishing, going target shooting, and playing softball. He was known to have a quick wit and made friends easily, and always had a new joke ready to tell you.

In his later years he spent time in Costa Rica, and moved to Eureka to be closer to his children and grandsons. He was busy building a place on his property and spent time teaching his grandsons to fish and listening to their stories.

Jerry is survived by his daughter Traci Street, husband Jon, and grandsons Seth, Roby and Colson; daughter Janice Hepler and family; nephews Jeremy and Jesse Gulledge and their families; and family members Brenda Turnbull, Becky Gulledge and Tahya Gulledge.

He was preceded in death by his son Joe Gulledge, his brother Jimmy Gulledge, and his parents, Kat and Jack.

Pura Vida, Jerry. You lived a good life.