Gerald W Silver

Gerald W Silver, 88, passed away on May 12, 2023, in Layton, Utah. Born on March 1, 1935, in Ogden, Utah, Jerry was a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served as a missionary in the Northwestern States Mission from 1956 to 1958. 

Jerry caught "photo fever" at the age of 11 and turned the family furnace room into a darkroom, where he promptly spilled developer on his mother's ironing board, which for months made the house reek of chemicals when she ironed. He was a soft-spoken, witty man who took a camera wherever he went, composing beautiful photographic memories of his children and grandchildren and their important family events. Before retiring, Jerry also took portraits of all the LDS presidents since President David O. McKay. He was there for the first lighting of Temple Square, covered the first Sterling Scholar Awards, and was one of the first to take shots of the old Utah Stars. He was an artist, storyteller, teacher, presenter, youth leader, family historian, researcher, and deeply loved husband, father, and grandfather.

Jerry served in the U.S. Army at Fort Dix as a basic training company commander and operations officer to the commanding general. He graduated from West High School and Army ROTC; attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point; completed officer training at Fort Benning; and earned a B.S. in Military Science and Psychology from the University of Utah.

He was an award-winning photographer at the Deseret News and Church News from 1963 to 1997 and a photography instructor at the University of Utah. Jerry also worked as a photographer for "In Search of Lehi's Trail," a one-month documentary expedition to the Middle East, which was published in the September and October 1976 issues of Ensign and the subsequent book.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Joan Grant Silver; daughters Kathleen Davis (Alan), Janet Lott (Dale), Barbara Ann Petersen (Gregg), Kimberly Wing (Joe), Teresa Reed (Douglas), Alison Conover (Brett); stepchildren Cherlynn Thomas (Ned), Kim Rees, Grant Blatter (Rochelle), Kristin Stewart (Dave), Travis Blatter (Shari), Shannon Evertsen, Brian Blatter (Quinnette); 50 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and foster siblings Marge Stolk, Don Larsen, Tom Larsen, Robert Larsen, and Karen Cook. He was previously married to Ann Stevenson Budge, beloved mother of their six daughters. He is preceded in death by his sister, Carol Silver Remillard; his brother, Joseph Clark Silver; his stepfather, Ezra Clark Silver; his mother, Modesta Esther Williams; and his father, Avelan Brown Stevens.
        
Jerry's viewing will be held on Friday, May 19, 2023, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Russon Mortuary, 295 North Main, Bountiful, Utah. Funeral services will be held at 2120 W. Gentile St, Layton, Utah, on Saturday, May 20, 2023, with a viewing from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. and the memorial service at 11:00 a.m.  Interment will be at the Centerville City Cemetery.

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Mortuary & Crematory Facebook page and on this obituary page.  The live stream will begin about 10-15 minutes prior to the service and will be posted below.

Services will also be streamed live on Zoom at this link:  https://zoom.us/j/96143267688?pwd=c1cwejhWZGVtR2xUQU5IWFdoK2ZEUT09