Jerry Everett Goddard

Jerry Everette Goddard, age 92, the much beloved Father, Grandfather and Great Grandfather of the Goddard family passed away of natural causes on March 2, 2025 at a group home. Jerry was a resident of Las Vegas for over 80 years. He was born on August 21, 1932 in Thermopolis Hot Springs, Wyoming. At the age of 8 Jerry’s family relocated to Las Vegas. He later graduated from Las Vegas High School and sensing a need to serve his country he enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve and was later drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War where he served with distinction. As a testament to both his skills, as well as his dedication to his assigned duties, his Commanding Officer offered the following observation upon Jerry’s separation from Service: “On numerous occasions, while assigned duties as Unit Carpenter, you displayed outstanding ability to get the job done no matter what difficulties you encountered. Without proper tools or equipment to perform as a carpenter, you displayed initiative and efficiency in a most superior manner.”

Following his discharge from the Army Jerry returned to Las Vegas and to love of his life, Elayne Whipple, and they were married on December 18, 1954 at the LDS Temple in St. George, Utah. By this time Jerry, following in the footsteps of his Father, had established himself as a master carpenter and he participated in many of the large construction projects on the Las Vegas strip. He undertook the construction of his own beautiful home which clearly demonstrated and confirmed his reputation as more than a carpenter, but more so a Master Craftsman who was second to none. Jerry and Elayne settled into the routine of family life and enjoyed 67 years of happy togetherness prior to Elayne’s death in 2021. They raised a family of two children: Lorie and Jerry. As he grew older, Jerry enjoyed watching his family keep growing in numbers and relished any opportunity to sit down and tell stories about his Service experiences, as well as the old days of early construction activities on the strip. Some of the best stories were the ones that he told about the times he had with Elayne. Until the very end Jerry remained a likeable, affable and entertaining asset to his family which his children and grandchildren adored.

Jerry was preceded in death by his wife Elayne, his parents Clarence and Mary Goddard, a Sister Dorothy Goddard and two brothers: Clarence and Jim. He is survived by a Sister, Elaine Ainsworth of Oregon, his Daughter, Lorie (and husband Paul Davis) of Fountain Hills, AZ, his Son, Jerry (and wife Cindy) of Henderson,NV, 9 Grandchildren, 18 Great Grandchildren and 7 Great Great Grandchildren.

Services for Jerry will be held on Monday March 31, 2025 with a viewing from 10AM-10:30AM, Funeral from 10:30AM-11:30AM, reception from 11:30 AM-12:30 PM, at Palm Boulder Highway Mortuary, 800 S. Boulder Highway Henderson, NV 89015. With burial at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 1900 Veterans Memorial Drive, Boulder City, NV 89005