Jerry George Gonzales

Services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at Living Stone Christian Church.

Mr. Gonzales was a pastor.

Survivors include his wife, Raquel; three sons, Steven, Kenneth and Joseph, all of Grand Junction; his mother, Adelires of Grand Junction; one brother, Jess of Grand Junction; two sisters, Doris Guajardo and Dorothy Velarde, both of Grand Junction; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Memorial contributions to Living Stone Christian Church, 2971 North Ave., Grand Junction, 81504.

Pastor Jerry Gonzales

September 19, 1947 - October 30, 2015

Pastor Jerry Gonzales transitioned on Friday morning at 5:35 a.m., in the company of his loving family at HopeWest Hospice, after suffering a stroke on Monday, October 26, 2015; he was 68 years old.

Pastor Jerry had been passionately involved in the ministry since a very young age and served as Senior Pastor in the valley for 33 years. Most recently, he served as Senior Pastor of Living Stone Christian Church, which he founded in 1994.

The following is Jerry's closing prayer after his last sermon on October 25, 2015, the day before the stroke.

""Father, we admit that Your chastening is not joyous but often times sorrowful. We may even question what is taking place. Let us recognize, as sons, we are learning obedience from the things that we are suffering, because you are bringing us to a higher place of usefulness. Bringing us to a place of being dispensers of Your mercy, Your grace, and Your love. Father, this world needs the mercy, the grace, and the love of God more than it has needed it at any time. You brought us into this Kingdom for such a time as this.

Lord, I pray for those going through difficult situations, those that are experiencing financial needs that seem overwhelming, those that are experiencing family situations that seem to have no answer, for those that seem locked into something from which they feel they can never escape, with no light at the end of the tunnel. I pray Your grace be released to them. Your grace is sufficient. I pray for this congregation, and for those who might be listening, Your grace and blessings from above upon them. I praise You as we go our way.

Thank You for your chastening, thank You, that You love uss enough to correct us, that You love us enough to call us Your sons, to call us into being productive for You. I praise You and thank You.

In Jesus name. Amen.""

Pastor Jerry was married to Raquel Gonzales (Montoya) June 25, 1966. They were planning a jubilee to celebrate 50 years of marriage in June of 2016. Other survivors include Jerry's sons, Steven, Kenneth, and Joseph; his mother, Addie; his brother, Jess; sisters, Doris Guajardo and Dorothy Velarde; seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild due to be born November 17th.

Please join us in the celebration of Pastor Jerry Gonzales' life at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, November 7, 2015, at Living Stone Christian Church, 2971 North Avenue, Grand Junction, CO 81504.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to ""Pastor Jerry Gonzales Memorial"" fund at any US Bank or by designating your gift through Living Stone Christian Church, or online via www.PayPal.com using the email address [email protected].

Published in The Daily Sentinel on Nov. 4, 2015