August 25, 1941- September 12, 2017
Jerry Dryden passed away peacefully at his home in Placerville, CA on September 12th. He was born in San Jose, California to John and Charlotte Dryden.
Jerry spent his younger years in the East Bay Area. He moved with his parents to Placerville in 1952 when his father bought the butcher shop in the Greenline Market and a 200-acre ranch on Springer Road. Jerry absolutely loved rural living and spent hours on the ranch riding horses, herding cows, mowi ng hay, and transporting pears to the Fruit Shed. He attended the Summit one-room school for 7th and 8th grades then went to El Dorado Union High School (EUHS). He left EU HS at the end of his sophomore year to attend San Rafael Military Academy. As a resident student he met and made lifelong friends, and thrived on the academic and athletic aspect of the school. He returned to EUHS to graduate with the class of 1959. Afterwards, he attended Sierra College in Auburn and was a member of the first graduating class in 1962 at the new Rocklin campus.
As he started classes at Sierra he met a nice young lady working at the Empire Theatre. At first she refused his advances but soon gave in. To make a long story short, he and Michal (Mike) Nunez married in 1961and were lovingly together until his recent passing.
Jerry spent most of his career in retail grocery. After his father closed Johnny's Market he spent a couple of years at the local Lucky's. In 1965 he moved his family to the East Bay Area where after a short period of time he was managing small chain grocery stores and independents. He retired in 1997 to a home he and Mike built in Mendocino County.
Jerry was happiest when he was outdoors - whether baiting a hook to fish for trout and sturgeon, or deep sea fishing for sail fish, tuna, terrapin, and marlin; putting a shotgun over his arm to hunt pheasant or duck with his trusty dogs Baron and Chip; or setting a rifle on his shoulder to walk miles through quakies and Colorado snow to hunt elk. He also played some golf and tennis, but he thoroughly enjoyed racquetball and jogging. He loved observing sports too, especially boxing. He was fortunate enough to have attended a Super Bowl, an All Star game, World Series games, and the Warriors 1975 championship series!
He was a member of the local Elks Lodge 1712, the Sons of The American Legion Squad No. 0119, and a lifetime NRA member.
As his health declined, Jerry and Mike moved back to Placerville to be closer to family and long time friends. He is predeceased by his son John and his parents Charlotte and John Dryden. He is dearly missed by his wife Mike and daughters Erin Dryden-Haisley of Las Vegas and Michele Baptista of Brentwood . Also surviving are granddaughters Ashley Haisley, Jessica Herndon, and Rylie and Morgan Baptista.
No service is planned. His ashes will be scattered in early summer at a place specifically designated by him in the high desert of the Eastern Sierra Nevada.
The family wishes to extend their genuine gratitude to Snowline Hospice for their angle-like care. Their presence helped ease our loss immensely .
Donations in Jerry' s memory may be made to Make a Wish Foundation, or St. Jude's Children's Hospital.
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