Geraldine Ridenour

Geraldine Fay Jarrett Ridenour left this earth life on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 anxious to get started on her next adventure in learning. Jerry was born Sept. 13, 1937 to Leslie and Cleora Jarrett in Las Vegas, NV. She was the only sister to brothers Bob and Bill, now both deceased.

Jerry always had a thirst for knowledge and was passionate about learning new things – from books to music, from crafts to sports, and more.

After graduating from Las Vegas High School in 1955, she met and started dating Charles Ridenour. They both had plans to attend school in Utah, she at BYU and he at the U of U. They continued dating while attending university and were married on March 23, 1957.

They started their married life together in Salt Lake City so Chuck could continue his education on the GI Bill. But, Jerry never gave up her desire to earn her own college degree. In 1959, after the birth of their first son, Charles Jr, they all moved to Ogden where Chuck had been offered a good job with Thiokol Chemical Corp.

Over the next 25 years, Jerry occupied her time with raising Charles Jr and four more children – Michael, Melanie, Leslie and Patricia. She was an accomplished homemaker who cared for her husband and friends and gave her time to church responsibilities and community involvement. She also educated herself during this time by reading all different genres of books. She was a lover of words and language and voracious reader. She also was a cook, a seamstress, a baker, a cheerleader, a gardener, a scholar, an advocate, a choral director, a women’s organization president, a delegate, a teacher, a traveler, a caregiver and more.

One of Jerry’s favorite activities since first practicing as a young girl with her Aunt Blanche was playing the piano. The piano was her pleasure and the source of many volunteer hours at church and also at McKay Dee Hospital. If a piano player was needed for a wedding, a funeral or church function, she would be there. She was called on to learn to play the organ for church meetings and performed that service for a little more than 20 years!

In 1987, 30 years after marrying Chuck she finally achieved her goal of earning her college degree. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Weber State University.

Jerry was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She loved the gospel and was a great witness for Jesus Christ.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, her son Charles Jr. and her husband Charles Sr. She is survived by her children Michael Ridenour (Susan), Melanie Lemon (Kenny), Leslie Farmer (Sebron), and Patricia Ridenour. She also leaves the legacy of her grandchildren Charles Ridenour, James Ridenour Daniel Ridenour, Aubrey Morgan, Shanna Simmons, Mike Ridenour, Joseph Ridenour, Tyler Lemon, Daniel Lemon, Matthew Lemon, Macy Lemon, Elizabeth Farmer, Emilie Farmer, Mary Farmer, Joshua Farmer and 23 great-grandchildren - with two more on the way!

Funeral services will be held Friday, June 2, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at the Mt. Lewis Stake Center, 1150 N. Monroe Blvd., Ogden, Utah. Friends may visit with family Thursday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the 1^st WARD BUILDING, 435 N. JACKSON AVE., Ogden, Utah and Friday morning from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. at the stake center. Interment, Lindquist’s Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch, 1718 Combe Rd, South Ogden, Utah.

The link for the services is below:

https://youtube.com/live/l5AIwNjwlAw?feature=share (https://youtube.com/live/l5AIwNjwlAw?feature=share)