THE FAMILY OF

WILLIAM E. GEE AND MARY ELLEN KERR

 

Will, oldest child of Erastus R. and Geneva Telford Gee, was born near Tooele, Utah.  Farm labor provided means for three years’ study at Utah State, Logan.  He served a two year “without purse or scrip” LDS mission to Western Colorado.  Mary Ellen, oldest child of Marion Joseph and Ella Rebecca Kerr, was born in Richmond, Utah.   The couple met in the hamlet of Ora, Idaho - now gone.  There, Mary attended and Will taught a tuition school for such pay as eggs, butter, side meat, milk and cedar fence posts.  Both earned teaching credentials from Ricks Academy and taught in public schools. 

 

After Marion was born Mary switched to higher education - home and family.  Will sold Singer Sewing Machines.  Later he became City Clerk, Councilman, Recorder and District Court Clerk of Fremont County; City Clerk, Councilman, Title Abstractor, School Board member, Bank Cashier and Deputy Treasurer of Madison County.  LDS Church assignments included ward, stake, and in-kind tithing clerk, counselor to four bishops, Stake Sunday School Superintendent.  He was a County Red Cross Chairman, Rotarian, and Clerk of Ricks Academy, Lyceum and Chautauqua Boards.  In both Rexburg and Pocatello, Mary served in Literary Clubs, as author and editor of many pioneer histories, frequent book reviewer, dramatic reader, composer of special occasion poetry, and teacher.  She was a long-time Fremont Stake Primary President.

 

In July 1929, the family moved to Pocatello where Will worked as an accountant and office manager.  He became Bannock County Deputy Assessor, Pocatello City Clerk, accountant for a multi-state auto sales concern.  Then, voters elected him as Bannock County Assessor.  He served eleven years as Bishop of a Depression-ravaged Pocatello ward.  LDS Church President Harold B.  Lee often remarked that he and Bishop W.E. Gee were among the “true pioneers in the Church Welfare program.”

 

Bishop Gee invited publisher Nicholas Ifft to donate use of a sizeable tract of unused land for a community garden.  Ifft accepted, and many residents worked, ate, and shared.  As needs grew, similar projects exploded into widespread member-operated farms, ranches, community canneries, manufacturing, and training.  Bishop Gee spearheaded purchase and operations of the Bishops’ Storehouse for Pocatello and other towns.  He worked there and as Regional Welfare Coordinator until well past retirement.  He and Mary were both successful Super Senior Teachers of teen youth and their parents.

 

Two of their five sons attended Ricks College.  Three went to public and high schools in Pocatello.  All five sons matriculated at the University of Idaho Southern Branch - now Idaho State University.  All college educations were financed by each student’s labors and notable wifely aid.  (There was no such thing as student loans in those days!)  William and Mary relished attending each son’s college graduations.  For Marion - English and Education from the University of Wyoming at Laramie; for Ivin -  Physics and Education from Brigham Young University; for Lynn -  Education from University of Idaho Southern Branch; Biology from Colorado State at Fort Collins; and a PhD in Bacteriology from the University of Wisconsin at Madison; for Merrill - Associate, Law, and Post Graduate studies from George Washington University, Washington, D.C.; for Vernon - Pharmacy from Idaho State University, M.D. from Northwestern University Medical School in Evanston, Illinois, Master of Nuclear Medicine from the Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota in Rochester, Minnesota.

 

Marion served a mission to the New England States.  As a young adult, he contracted Multiple Sclerosis while teaching.  His doctor advised him to give up and conserve strength.  (A similarly-afflicted and advised friend did so and died within less than a year.)  Marion walked.  He farmed, aided by mighty works of his wife, Helen Young, and sons, Bill and Tony.  He lost use of the right hand, so he switched to the left.  He biked, lost his balance, went to a stationary, then motorized models.  He had to give up farming, high school teaching, and joined the English faculty at Idaho State University using his wheel chair.  He challenged Navy V-12 cadets, AEC specialists, and eager Freshmen.  Greater disability forced him to retire and become Emeritus status. 

 

After Helen’s death, the handicaps required nursing home care.  Reading and speaking became less functional.  He turned to talking books, music, and lectures.  Short-wave radio brought the world into his room.  Another resident of the Good Samaritan Home where he resided was a young literature-loving multiple-sclerosis patient named Sharon Parks.   She became his wife, companion, eyes, ears, hands, nurse and messenger.  He rallied, gained a clearer voice, and was more alert and cheerful.  Then, in December 1990, Multiple Sclerosis won its fifty year battle for his body.  He willed it to science.  His example lives and shines!  He and his first wife - Helen - had two sons: William M.  Jr.  and Anthony L.  He is survived by both sons, wife Sharon, stepson, Paul Parks, 18 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

 

Ivin left teaching to worry about the wiles and wonders of weather at Pocatello, Denver and Lander, Wyoming.  No matter how frigidly sub-zero or deep the blizzard-driven snow, he invariably assured his radio listeners: “It’s a beautiful day in Lander, Wyoming!”  He and retired-teacher wife, Pearl Stucki, have a daughter, Rosemary (Gee) Wall, sons: Drs.  Ivin Laurence, Martell J., Glendon W.; 24 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren. 

 

Lynn was World War II Meteorology instructor and researcher for Chemical warfare Branch.  He taught at Purdue University, Texas A & M, and Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma.  He published significant research, and is listed in “Who’s Who” and “American Men of Science.”  He and his wife Eileen Eschler have a daughter, Margo (Gee) Heaps and a son, Dr.  Lamont Lynn, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

 

Merrill met and married Downey-born Dorothy Merrill in Washington, D.C. and tugged her to Virginia, Pocatello, Boise, Germany, Idaho again, Virginia again, California, South Carolina, Hawaii, etc.  whenever the mortgage came due.  He and his wife, Dorothy Merrill have one daughter, Valon (Gee) Hackworth; sons, Merrill Kerr II; Gavin M. ; and Erin Preston.  All four of the children were born and attended schools in Pocatello.  Three studied at Idaho State University or so they claim!  They have 22 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

 

Vernon gave up acting for science.  He was Regimental Surgeon, M.A.S.H., Korea, and made repeated volunteer tours to Vietnam and Hospital Ship “Hope.”  He was an avid mountaineer and environmentalist.  He died from unattended massive coronary, December 1974.  He had no children by his first wife, Barbara Baldwin.  His second wife - Alyce Chesnut - had three children: Ginny, Barbara, and Robert Chesnut, Jr.