Jerald A. Sumsion, beloved father, husband, grandfather, brother and friend, died Monday, January 28, 2019, after a brief fight with pancreatic cancer. He died at home, with his daughters and grandchildren surrounding him. Jerry was born in Moroni, Utah and felt great love for and connection to Sanpete County. He loved to describe his adventures growing up with his friends and siblings, Betty L. Seeley (Boyd), S. Ray Sumsion (Diana), and G. Allen Sumsion (Linda). He was a devoted son to his parents, George Spafford Sumsion and Maud Elizabeth Hansen. He traveled with them regularly to explore the American West. He married Carol Ann Healey, from Alpine Utah, on August 10, 1959. They had a long and happy marriage, enjoying travel, good food and grandchildren, until her death in 2001. They had two daughters, Elizabeth Ann Graul (Ed) and Sondra Soderborg (Nathan) and a foster son, John Chung. They have five grandchildren, Seth Nathan Soderborg, Megan Elizabeth Graul (Isaac), Sarah Ann Soderborg, Benjamin Edgar Graul (Maggie) and Hannah Elizabeth Soderborg. Jerry prioritized his family all his life. He was at home for dinner every day after work. He worked with his dad on the family farm and with his daughters in his yard and home. He took great pride in maintaining a lovely home, doing the routine jobs of cleaning and laundry and decorating beautifully and elaborately for Christmas. He knew his grandchildren well and was their trusted friend and mentor. He travelled with them, taking each of them on a solo trip at least once. He spent an entire summer when he was 80 working with his granddaughter Megan in Alaska. Jerry loved to travel, visiting Europe, Australia, China, Russia, Mexico and a number of islands where he scuba dived. He loved good food and planned his trips partially around restaurants he wanted to experience. Jerry enjoyed life and people. He went sky diving (once) in his mix-sixties. He played in poker and blackjack tournaments in Wendover and was really proud when he won. He stayed in close contact with his friends from Moroni High, helping to find and organize them for regular get togethers. He loved music, especially classical and country. Using a free finger, he conducted the music playing in his car, often George Shearing or Eddie Arnold. He and his dear friend, Julie Paul spent many happy times at the symphony, the opera, and the ballet. He had a complex relationship with the LDS Church, participating and serving while his daughters were growing up, but limiting his involvement in later years. Jerry earned a degree in chemical engineering and an MBA from the University of Utah. He took education seriously and fostered that value in his family. He was a program manager at Hercules Chemical Company, Aerospace Division, in Magna, Utah for most of his adult life, working on rocket motors for strategic missile programs. He thought hard, read widely, asked questions, and was always growing and learning. What he was, most of all, was a charming, warm, kind and generous man, someone whose laugh was ready and full. His family and his friends will miss him profoundly.
Jerry is survived by his two daughters, their spouses, his grandchildren, John Chung and his brother Allen.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 2, 2019 at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 East Dimple Dell Road (10600 South), Sandy, UT. A visitation will be held Friday evening from 6-8 p.m. and Saturday from 12:30 ‚ 1:30 p.m. prior to the services.
In lieu of flowers, the family would be grateful for your donations to The Huntsman Cancer Institute.
