Our dad, Gerald Luther Bayless (Jerry), 83, of Westminster, CA, passed away on July 10, 2020 after a difficult battle with COVID-19.
He was born on January 15, 1937 to Luther and Amanda Bayless in Pittsburg, KS. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in January 1954. During his time in the Navy, some of the ships he worked on were the USS Forrest Sherman DD-931 and USS Gainard DD-706, along with different bases on the east and west coast. He retired from the Navy in February 1973 with an honorable discharge.
In 1956, Dad met the love of his life, Lucille Ogle (Lucy), during a night of roller skating that took a twist and changed his life forever! They were married for 58 wonderful years. Dad was determined to provide for his family by giving us the life he felt we deserved. While in the Navy he worked days, he was home for a couple hours and would return to base, working nights at the NCO club. He worked hard to ensure that Mom could always be home to raise us five kids.
After 20 years in the U.S. Navy, he worked at the Thrifty Store warehouse where he retired after 20 years . In retirement, he choose to become a crossing guard after seeing how much Mom enjoyed doing it. He earned the prestigious honor of Crossing Guard for the years of 2000-2001 and 2014-2015. The kids loved him and he loved the kids!
Dad became a Christian in 1979 and never wavered in his beliefs. He was very involved in the West Cypress Church, where he led Bible study classes, volunteered with VBS and was one of the beloved greeters every Sunday morning. He always shared his love of Jesus and encouraged many people in their faith.
Dad was involved in many organizations, volunteering countless hours, and met many wonderful people along the way. An important member of the Christian Motorcycle Association, he helped start several local chapters in California. He was the top fund raiser in Calvary Riders each year and several years ago CMA Southern California sent him on a Missionary Ventures trip to deliver motorcycles and Bibles to the pastors in Nicaragua. CMA's “Run For the Son” started as an effort to provide just one motorcycle to a pastor in Guatemala and now provides over 14,000 of them all over the world.
Dad also rode to multiple prisons in California and Arizona, sharing the Gospel with inmates through “Bill Glass Prison Ministries.”
Thanksgiving Day, you would find Dad at the Honda Center parking lot for “We Give Thanks”, cooking up vegetables as dinner was served to several thousand people every year.
A volunteer coordinator for “BAD RIDES”, Bikers Against Diabetes, he had up to 300 volunteers he was in charge of organizing at each event. He raised funds for “Relay for Life”, an organization that helps those with cancer, following the loss of his granddaughter Danere, to breast cancer in 2010.
As President for Branch 175 of the Fleet Reserves he was awarded "Sailor of the Year" in 2018-2019. He organized the “American Patriotism in Young People” essay contest for 7-12th graders in his area, he read the entries for the scholarship winners, which would then be sent to the National Headquarters. He was very proud that they had a National Winner from their chapter more than once. He was very proud to be a “Patriot Guard,” on motorcycles they honored our fallen soldiers by escorting them from the airport, as they were brought home.
When the Navy ship, the Battleship IOWA, was decommissioned for the final time in 2012 at San Pedro, Dad became a docent. He wanted to do something new during retirement! He spent hours studying the history of the ship so that he could be a fully informed docent to all the patrons that joined his tours. He volunteered over 500 hours in the 8 years there, giving tours to hundreds of individuals, groups and elementary school classes. The time spent volunteering helped him become the recipient of a very sought-after jacket few volunteers have earned. We were so proud of him, Dad even has his name on one of the bunks within the ship!
Dad loved to go deep sea fishing. He was always so excited to bring back his catch so Mom could make fish tacos! As passionate craftsman, He could be found in his garage workshop or office making gifts for family and friends, usually something adorable to go in the garden or front yard. He made beautiful leather craft items for many years and he enjoyed giving demonstrations at the OC Fair. Also, Dad's lighthouses--his collection is something to see! There is even a huge one in his garden that he made for the OC fair!
A huge fan of the Los Angeles Angels Baseball team, He had season tickets and many game souvenirs. He has quite the collection of bobble heads, shirts, jackets and, of course, the rally monkeys! If he couldn't be at a game, he'd try to watch it on the sports channel.
Those who knew our dad would often see him on one of his motorcycles, his bicycle or walking his dog, Tucker, through the neighborhood. Dad said hello to everyone he saw. He knew most of his neighbors by name, the names of their children and grandchildren. He would inquire about them and what was happening in their lives. He also knew many from crossing their kids from school. Dad made the community of Indian Village, the neighborhood where he lived, his "Village". He never slowed down.
Dad made sure that his best buddy for the last 5 years, Tucker, would be taken care of and now is in good hands with Michele.
He is survived by his children Daniel (Kim), Denise (Jody), Michele, Susan (Dale) and Bill (Lorraine), 11 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.
Dad was preceded in death by our mom, Lucy, in January 2015. They are now together again. We love you mom and dad!
Our family would like to thank everyone for their love, prayers and support during this difficult time, we wish we could be together. But for now through words, videos or pictures we can celebrate Dad's life here. Special Thanks to Pastor Brian for coming to the hospital. As only family was allowed in his room, by using their phones, he prayed with Michele and Dad at his bedside.
Dad believed in volunteering and giving to charities, so in lieu of flowers, our family requests that donations be made to any of the following:
lls.org..(lukemia)..888-557-7177.....PO Box 98018, Washington DC 20090-8018
nationalmssociety.org......800-344-4867....PO Box 91891, Washington DC 20090-1891
muttswithamission.org....757-465-1033.....PO Box 4147, Suffolk, VA 23439
