Gerald "Jerry" William Birge

August 8, 1939 – September 17, 2026

Jerry Birge passed away on September 17, 2026, at the age of 87, surrounded by the family who loved him.

Born in Everett on August 8, 1939, to Gerald and Grace Birge. Jerry grew up in Naches and graduated from Naches High School in 1958. The valley became his lifelong home. He married Fran Kehoe in 1962, and together they raised four children.

Jerry spent 47 years working at Layman Lumber. The job was demanding, physical, and unrelenting, but he met it with quiet resolve. That steadiness — the willingness to shoulder hard work without complaint — shaped the man his family and community knew him to be.

At home, Jerry poured himself into the land he loved. He gardened, tended his property, and worked wood with the same patience and care he brought to everything else. Sports were woven through his life, especially baseball. He coached Pee Wee baseball, teaching kids not just the rules of the game but the importance of showing up and giving your best.

Jerry stayed close to his Naches High classmates for the rest of his life, gathering with them every month right up to the end. Those friendships meant a great deal to him. He had a quick mind and an even quicker wit, and he joked easily with everyone he met. He never made an enemy. Generous and caring, he gave without hesitation to anyone who asked. Around town, he was well known — and well liked — by many, many people.

Retirement only widened his world. He traveled to Alaska to fish, and he spent winters in Arizona with friends, soaking up the sun and the company in equal measure.

Jerry was preceded in death by his daughter, Julie Birge, his sisters Sharon, Liz and his brother Buck. He is survived by his sisters Dianne and Rosie, children, Doug Birge, Gaylen Birge, and Gina Bahhage (Monir); eight grandchildren; and seven great‑grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Jerry's House in Naches, WA, on October 10, 2026, at 2:00 pm.