Jerry A. Varin

     Jerry Alton Varin was born in Wendell, Idaho to Susan and John Varin of Gooding on April 7, 1949. The small family cattle ranch north of Gooding provided plenty of opportunities to hone Cowboy skills. He attended school in Gooding and graduated from high school where he developed many loyal lifetime friends.

     Jerry attended college but found the work on the ranch more to his liking and he always loved life on the range. The ranch, besides the home place, included parcels on the Camas Prairie near Mormon reservoir and on the Little Wood River. The cows and calves were turned out on the BLM ground to the east and north of the Gooding ranch in the spring and eventually, after a strenuous round up and cattle drive, spent the summer on the Little Smoky area of the Sawtooth National Forest north of Fairfield. In the fall the herd was back on the home place and Little Wood River place for wintering and calving. The work on the ranch was never ending, with cattle drives, haying, irrigating, fencing and lots of drives between the parcels. Jerry didn’t spend a day working the ranch without a drive someplace.

     Jerry married and had two daughters. Eventually, the ranch, as with many small ranches, was no longer viable for Jerry and his family so they moved to Arizona. They lived in Sedona for a while and ended up in Show Low. Jerry was a long-haul truck driver for a while. He worked at various other jobs, including a stent of transporting construction equipment. Jerry enjoyed driving truck, and once, he had to drive a big transport truck with a large piece of equipment on it up the tortuous grade to Jerome, Arizona, which was a real testament to his skill as a driver.

     While in Arizona Jerry suffered from some severe health issues and underwent several brain surgeries and open-heart surgery. Jerry suffered a head injury when he was young, which taught him early in life how to recover from and overcome adversity. He became a health recovery specialist.

     Because of his health issues he found his way back home to Gooding where Jerry spent the rest of his life. In Gooding, Jerry spent his time visiting with friends and collecting Western artifacts and art. He also continued to make new friends and to stay in contact as best he could with the friends he made along his life’s way. To say that Jerry was a good friend to many, many folks is an understatement.

     Jerry was divorced and had two daughters, a stepson and several grandchildren that he loved dearly and unfortunately didn’t get to see as much as he would have liked due to no fault of his own.

     Jerry had the care of many doctors, other health care professionals and care facility staff. We would like to thank all of them especially the staff at Stonebridge in Wendell, Idaho where he died peacefully in his sleep on March 18, 2022.

     Jerry is survived by his brothers - Jim of Sun Valley, Idaho and Jack of Fairfield and Boise, Idaho and his sister - Rosemary, Pocatello, Idaho and many nieces, nephews and cousins all of whom where more than family members but friends during his life.

     Jerry attended Church when he could. He was a man of deep faith.

     In lieu of flowers or memorials, call a friend.

     Jerry’s remains were cremated, and it was his wish that his ashes be scattered on Little Smokey.  A memorial service will be held late spring or summer so his friends who live out of the area may attend.

     Cremation arrangements are under the care and direction of Demaray Funeral Service – Gooding Chapel.

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