Geraldine D. Osborn August 23, 1933 ~ February 28, 2022

Gerry was born August 22, 1933, in Cedar City, UT, the first child of William Bryant and Zola Smith Dover. Gerry was joined by sisters Joan Wendel, Ann Marie Hirschi and brother William Boyd Dover.
Gerry resided in Cedar City her entire youth. She graduated from Cedar City High School in 1951. Gerry had many high school friends that she kept in touch with and shared a class letter that traveled amongst her close friends to this day. She attended the Branch Agricultural College in Cedar City, graduating in 1953.
Education was important to Gerry so after BAC she enrolled at Utah State University. She did not finish her studies at USU as she soon met the love of her life.
Gerry was married to James Carl Osborn on September 16, 1955, in the St. George Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They recently celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary.
Four children were born: Jacketta Anderson of Price, UT, William Carl Osborn of Thatcher, AZ, Catherine Fang of Yuma, AZ and Eric James Osborn of Tucson, AZ. Six grandchildren include Bryant, Benjamin, Matthew, Paige, Connor, and Keilani, and five great grandchildren.
Living a Christ-like life was the most important aspiration Gerry had in her life. Her church membership and keeping a current temple recommend meant everything.
Gerry served in the Primary and loved her primary children. A primary child recalled Gerry always had a smile on her face, and he knew she loved him.
She served as president of the Young Womens and a highlight was taking her girls to the Hill Cumorah Pageant. She cherished many memories of this experience.
She always wanted to serve a mission and was proud to serve a service mission to the Blue Mountain Guest Ranch. She wore her mission badge with great pride.
Another highlight was serving with Carl in the Monticello Utah Temple. Gerry loved being a visiting teacher and home minister.
Gerry prayed daily that she could be of service to someone in even the smallest of ways. She was a strong believer in the power of prayer.
Gerry never aspired to have a career other than being a wife and mother. Although she earned an Associates Degree and was one semester shy of her bachelors, she preferred getting her MRS Degree.
However, throughout her life she had various jobs, some she loved and some not so much.
As a teenager she worked for her father at the Meadow Gold dairy along with other relatives. They were affectionally called “asbestos workers” by their colleagues. Grandpa Dover was the dairy manager, so his daughters and sons-in-laws were fireproof.
One of Gerry’s favorite jobs was working two summers at Zion’s Park Lodge as a maid. Zion’s was always her favorite park.
After moving to Blanding, she went to work for KUTA radio station. She told about mixing up the advertisements because it was boring to run the same ads at the same time. Her boss quickly advised her that advertisers paid for spots, and she couldn’t mix them up like she had done.
When she got pregnant with Catherine that gave her a good excuse to quit the radio business. Gerry stayed at home until her eldest daughter went away to college. To support her kids in college and on missions, she went to work as a Teachers Aide at Blanding Elementary.
She enjoyed working with Steve Lovell and others at the Blanding Elementary. When Eric moved on to the high school so did Gerry. She began her final career move as a Library Aide to Barbra Kuipers.
Gerry loved her years at the high school but when Carl retired, she was very anxious to retire as well. She had supported her two daughters earning bachelor’s degrees and two sons serving missions to Montana and Argentina.
After retirement, Gerry and Carl became worldwide travelers and snowbirds to Arizona and Mexico. They enjoyed many years living in their RV next to the Hirschi’s and Wendel’s. They traveled with family and friends from Canada to Arkansas.
Gerry dreamed about going to places like Ireland, England, Germany, France, and the Caribbean. Her dreams came true when she went with Carl to Germany visiting friends, they had made through a student exchange program.
They went on several ocean cruises with family and friends and a river cruise up the Rhine. One of their favorite adventures was to England with the College of Eastern Utah study abroad program.
Gerry had many talents. Her beautiful quilts will be treasured by her children and grandchildren forever. She knit hundreds of baby caps for newborns at the Blue Mountain Hospital.
She was a great seamstress and she made numerous dresses for her daughters. She was especially proud of her ironing skills.
Her grandmother Muddy once told her how well she ironed which pleased her immensely. Gerry said Ann Marie and Boyd got all the athletic ability in the family.
She didn’t like sports, but bowling seemed to be something she excelled at. There is a cupboard full of trophies she won participating in a bowling league.
When Carl signed a contract to teach at Blanding Elementary School in 1958, they figured out it would be a two- or three-year stay. They moved into the newly built teachers houses. They were surrounded by other young couples just starting their teaching careers: Lee’s, Swenson’s, Cochran’s, and others.
Gerry found a sisterhood in her neighbors that flourished over her lifetime. The two to three years turned out to be 66 with a short one year move to Gunnison, UT. Every minute Gerry lived in Gunnison she longed to be back in Blanding so when Carl was offered the principalship at San Juan High, there was no question in Gerry’s mind where she wanted to be.
Gerry is preceded by in death by her father, mother, father-in-law Riley Reese Osborn, mother-in-law Erma Nixon Osborn, brother-in-laws John R Osborn, Jim Haws, Robert (Bob) Wendel, Clark Hirschi, and sister-in-law Norma Dover.
She is survived by her husband, four children, six grandchildren, five great grandchildren and two sons in law, Russ Anderson and Scott Hanlin.
Card of thanks
The family would like to express gratitude to Dr. Val Jones, MD for being Gerry’s physician and friend for so many years. He truly provided compassionate service to our mother.
We express gratitude to the nursing staff at Blue Mountain Hospital for the care they gave Gerry the last three weeks of her life. A special thank you to Sunni Lee who held our mother’s hand as she passed through the veil.
To the staff at Rocky Mountain Home Care, the occupational and physical therapists, and Mary Lou Jones, who brought joy and laughter in dark days to our home.
To all the family and friends who have brought food and sent condolences we express gratitude.