Gerald Emerson Earl

Gerald Emerson Earl (Emerson) passed away peacefully at his home with loved ones by his side on Thursday February 15, 2018 of natural causes at the age of 95. Gerald was born August 12, 1922 in Parker, Idaho to Jedediah Leonard (Bud) Earl and Margaret Estella Earl. He grew up in Parker, Idaho until approximately the age of 7, then shortly thereafter, moved with his family to Fielding, Utah. January 7, 1946, he married Bernadine Davie the love of his life in Elko, Nevada. The marriage was later solemnized in the L.D.S. Temple. He often told the story of his wedding night about how he left Bernie in the hotel room of the casino to go down stairs to gamble. When asked "Emerson why did you do that?" He said "well I had to pay for the room somehow!" I guess he must have won at least a little money because they made it out of Elko in one piece. He and his new bride returned to Fielding, Utah where they ran their local grocery store known as Earl's Market and U.S. Post Office while raising three boys, Gerald Emerson Earl the 2nd, Danny Paul Earl, and Clinton Davie Earl. After retirement, they resided in St. George, Tremonton, and Perry, Utah, settling finally in Twin Falls, Idaho. In 1941 he joined the Garland National Guard. After just a few weeks, his unit was inducted into the Army on March 3, 1941, as a part of the 222nd Field Artillery Headquarters Battery, 40th Division. After basic training he was lucky enough to be given stateside duty, for a short time. While being stateside, he was able to attend Kansas University. He gained a year's worth of college before being sent straight to the war (WWII). Emerson was part of the clerical unit. He said "I was officially a Battery Clerk but really I was just a Battery Jerk." Then he always chuckled. While his unit was stationed in Germany, one of the things he is most proud of is that his unit was one of the units that helped liberate Dachau. Dachau was a work camp that was responsible for the deaths of 32,000 documented inmates and thousands of undocumented deaths were later reported. He often commented about the words on the sign over the entrance to Dachau, "Arbeit macht frei" or in translation "Work will set you free." He also said that those words really made him tear up because he knew that within that camp work would never have set them free. So, to be a part of setting men free was such a great honor. Emerson witnessed some horrible things while at war, but he also had fond memories as well. He understood the importance of his sacrifice and his mark in history. He was honorably discharged December 6, 1945. He was extremely proud to have his freedoms and to be an American. He lived a very active and important life in the community. He owned and operated Earl's Market, later adding on and operating the U.S. Post Office as Post Master. He was the Mayor at one time, belonged to the volunteer fire department, a member of the L.D.S. church serving as the Sunday School President and a home teacher, and anything else that just so happened to come his way to serve his community. He in many ways was "The Man known as Mr. Fielding." The store and post office were the focal point of the community. He loved serving the people of Fielding. He and Bernie loved to travel. They were lucky enough to travel to all 50 states as well as many places in Europe, one being a return trip to Germany to see his son Gerald Emerson Earl the 2nd (Jake), while he was also stationed there in the Army. He said it was a much nicer place to see then. He and Bernie would spend hours on end playing Ping Pong. He and Bernie bowled in leagues for many years collecting several trophies along the way, and at one point he was the President of the bowling league they belonged to. He loved to play golf, playing as much as he could either with Bernie and the boys or with friends. He and Bernie were die hard Utah Jazz fans. They missed very few games. This is one of the things he still loved to do right up to the end. He was extremely good at doing crossword puzzles and Sudoku. He could sit down and whip right through them. Until the end Clint and he would do the puzzles together always finishing them due to Emerson's knowledge. He was a plethora of knowledge. He truly was "Mr. Webster." Besides his dying love for is wife, his other love was his cat Killer. Killer was never far from his side. Emerson was an intelligent, kind and loving man. He loved his entire family deeply. He will be remembered for his work ethic, vast knowledge, kind and loving heart, as well as his willing to give or help anyone who was in need. All of which remained with him through his final days of his life. Heaven has gained another angel and is rejoicing in his return. He is at peace knowing he has been reunited with his Bernie, his parents, grandparents, son, grandsons, great granddaughter, and all his brothers and sisters he loved so dearly in his lifetime. He is preceded in death by his wife Bernadine Davie Earl, grandparents Jedediah Earl and Eugenia Eveline Leonard Earl, Lemuel Jerome Rice and Julietta Amelia Jenkins Rice. His parents Jedediah Leonard (Bud) Earl and Margaret Estella Rice Earl, son Gerald Emerson Earl the 2nd, grandsons' McKay Roe and Lane Barnes, great granddaughter Hailey Barnes, brothers' Clinton Rice Earl, Enid Earl, Roland Milton Earl, Jedidiah LaCont Earl, and Lemuel Rice Earl, sisters' Janice Earl Gough, Lulu Earl Bowcutt, and Norine Earl Turner. He is Survived by his children Danny Paul (Jeanne) Earl, Hurricane, Utah, Clinton Davie (Kim) Earl, Twin Falls, Idaho, and multiple grandchildren and great grandchildren. His family wishes to thank all the health care providers who attended to him. Their loving care couldn't have been better. The family invites friends to attend a Celebration of life on Saturday February 24, 2018 at the L.D.S Church located at 4375 West 15000 North, Fielding, Utah. Visitation will be held from 11:00am to 12:00pm. Service to follow. He will be laid to rest with full Military Honors at the Fielding Cemetery following the service. A luncheon will follow back at the church.