Gerald Charles Harter

Gerald Charles Harter, age 78, passed away at his Atascadero home on July 27 surrounded by family. He was a native of San Luis Obispo County and went through grades 1-12 in Atascadero, where he met Carol Harter, his wife of more than fifty-five years. He graduated from U.S.C. a proud Trojan (and Delta Sigma Pi of the year in 1957), and began work as an insurance adjuster in various locations in California while he and Carol had 3 daughters: Chris Harter(Ed Hazel) of Monterey, Jacque (John) Guevara of Salem, Oregon, and Lorrie Harter of Monterey. The young family moved back to Atascadero in 1972 and Jerry worked as a real estate appraiser and a banker with Great Western Savings, Atascadero Guarantee, and Century Federal Savings and Loan, as well as working at his own appraisal business.

Jerry was an active member of the community in Atascadero. He belonged to the Atascadero Elks Lodge, where he was the Exalted Ruler in 2006-7, Elk of the Year in 2011-2012, as well as serving at District level positions. He was a member of the Atascadero Rotary Club, where he was President in 1978-1979 and Rotarian of the Year in 2000-2001. He also belonged to the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce where he was President in 1983-1984. He participated in numerous charitable and community events in Atascadero and throughout the Central Coast.

Jerry is survived by his immediate family, mentioned above, as well as his grandchildren Janson and Jaren Guevara of Salem, Oregon, his sister Barbara Arnold and her children Steve Arnold (Debby), Bill Arnold (Bobbi), Susan Hunt (Fred) and Karen Avina (John), all of Pozo; aunts Wilda Theroux of Arroyo Grande and Dorothy Maxwell of Arizona, as well as various other extended family members. He was preceded in death by his parents Bud (Charles) Harter and Miriam Harter, both of Atascadero.

Jerry was an avid sailor and woodworker, having made special pieces of furniture for his daughters and special toys for his grandsons. He loved sailing on Huntington Lake in the Sierras, and before his illness, backpacking, cross country skiing and traveling across the country with Carol in their RV. He was known for his sharp wit and readiness to help others. He was also the inventor of the hot tub stick (to change the channels on the tv without getting out of the tub or electrocuted) and the Laughing Song (to quell his youngest daughter’s carsickness on a windy mountain road). He will be deeply missed by his family and friends, but will always be remembered.

Services will be held on Saturday August 15 at 11:00 at the Atascadero Elk’s Lodge, 1516 El Camino Real. Donations in Jerry’s memory can be made to the Elk’s National Foundations, The Jimmy V. Foundation for Cancer Research or the Central Coast Hospice.