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Jerry Dean Hess, 77, of Kemmerer, Wyo., passed away on March 7, 2026, at St. Mark’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. He spent his last moments with his wife and partner of 37 years, Sharon Susanne Hess (Sue).
He was born in Spencer on July 2, 1948. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend.
Jerry was also a proud veteran of the United States Army during the Vietnam Conflict where he attained the rank of Sergeant. During his service he earned a Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, an Army Good Conduct Medal, an Army Overseas Service Bar, a Combat Infantryman Badge, an Expert Marksmanship Badge and a US Army Air Defense Artillery Unit Insignia for his service after he left Vietnam. He was deeply proud of his country and had spent the last many years serving on the Honor Guard for the American Legion to make sure the veterans of the area were able to receive an Honor Guard burial.
Following his military service, Jerry returned home and earned a degree in horticulture. He later became a mud engineer in the oilfield and eventually retired from Baker Hughes after doing that for many years.
He loved the outdoors. He spent thousands of hours searching for rocks, mushrooms and bones of miscellaneous creatures in the desert near their home in Wyoming. He fished with anyone willing to go with him as often as he possibly could, and even brought some fish home for dinner on several occasions! He was an avid hunter and hunted right up to this last year when he successfully got a cow elk. In the past he hunted deer, antelope, birds, rabbits and even tried to get a wild hog on a visit to Texas!
He loved to garden and brew his own beer and was not one to sit still for more than a few seconds.
He was kind and generous to his friends and family and had a wonderful faith in our Heavenly Father.
Jerry is survived by his wife Sharon Susanne Hess; his children: Clorice Evonne Walton, Cyrena Lou Devitt (decesed), Taunia Lee Berg, Frankie Robert Williams Jr.; his grandchildren: Chase Hall, Abby Hall, Gabby Hall, Elizabeth Reynolds, Michael Williams, Jerry Williams (deceased), Victoria Williams, Zachary Berg, Cedessa Sotoberg and Tyrel Berg; his great-grandchildren, Elyria Berg and Axel Berg; his sister Cindy Meyer; his brother Tom Hess; and many nieces and nephews.
A Graveside Celebration of Life service will be held on March 21 at 12 p.m. at the South Lincoln Cemetary, 530 Fossil Butte Dr., Kemmerer, WY. Military honors will be rendered at graveside. There will be a reception immediately following the service at St. James Episcopal Church, 506 Cedar Ave., Kemmerer, Wyo.
Jerry will be missed.
