GERALD E. (JERRY) YOUNGBLOOD

May the good Lord be with you
Down every road you roam
And may sunshine and happiness
surround you when you're far from home
And may you grow to be proud
Dignified and true
And do unto others
As you'd have done to you
Be courageous and be brave
And in my heart you'll always stay
Forever Young…
  May good fortune be with you
May your guiding light be strong
Build a stairway to heaven
with a prince or a vagabond
And may you never love in vain
and in my heart you will remain
Forever Young…
And when you finally fly away
I'll be hoping that I served you well
For all the wisdom of a lifetime
No one can ever tell
But whatever road you choose
I'm right behind you, win or lose
…For, Forever Young, Forever Young

Lyrics by Bob Dylan

Gerald E. (Jerry) Youngblood was aptly named, for his free spirit was indeed “Forever Young.”  He was born July 10, 1937 to the late Harold Youngblood and Margaret Claus Gorman, and grew up in California and Iowa.  He passed away at home on January 29, 2016 after living with an aggressive cancer for more than a year.  Jerry moved to the TriCities in 1989 and was a senior research scientist at Battelle until 2012; however, his profession does not begin to capture who he was. 

Jer was a fun, gregarious person who was always up for an adventure in the great outdoors.  Fly fishing, back packing, hiking, biking, swimming, running, and exploring roads less traveled were his favorite endeavors.  Given his patient accepting nature he always welcomed company in these pursuits; yet he was also comfortable enough in his own skin to venture out on his own. 

Jerry marched to his own beat and was not often encumbered by deadlines and schedules; that is, unless they were training schedules! He was passionate about his training and loved the people he trained with.  He was an avid member of Team in Training, the flagship fundraising program for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and a nationally ranked triathlete in the 75-79 age group for the Olympic distance.

Jerry deeply loved his family.  His wife Penny Colton was his best friend for 30 years.  He was extremely proud of his children Brian and Karen Youngblood and stepsons Nathan and Dan Johnson.  His ability to genuinely connect with people of all ages made him an adored grandpa to Madison, Jacob, Dakota, Avery, Hunter, Zachary, Emilie, Aubriana, and Amethyst; brother to Janene, Joanie, Jill, JD, and Jody; as well as an  adored nephew, cousin, brother-in- and -out-law, father-in-law, and uncle.  

Jerry Youngblood truly lived in and for each and every moment.  He brought light and laughter to all who were fortunate to know and love him.   In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in his name to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Team in Training at http://pages.teamintraining.org/wa/yourway16/tricityrebels; the Union Gospel Mission, P.O. Box 1443, Pasco, WA 99301; or to a charity of your choice. 

Per his request, he has been cremated and his ashes will be scattered in the Spanish Peaks Wilderness Montana by family at a later date.