Obituary:
Jared Keith (JK or Jerry) Johns, lifelong Sheridan resident, passed away on October 8, 2016 at the VA Medical Center. Jerry was born on February 2, 1928 in the old Sheridan hospital on 6th Street. He was born to parents, Harry and Dorothy Nell (Hensinger) Johns.
Growing up in Story, WY during the depression, he learned at an early age the necessity of hard work and the value of commodities. As a young boy, he was responsible for many chores, including milking the cows in the morning, separating and bottling the milk, and then delivering the milk to the general store on the way to school. The milk was traded for groceries, which he picked up and carried home after school. The Johns’ family also grew a big garden and raised chickens, which they delivered to locals in their old Model T.
Jerry graduated from Sheridan High School in 1946, and enlisted in the US Naval Service on June 5, 1946. He became an aerial photographer for the Navy. He then went to college at the University of Wyoming and at Ft. Collins where he took four years of pre-vet courses, but did not complete vet school. His education in veterinary science was instrumental in caring for his horses over the years. He developed many lifelong friends from those college years.
In 1951, Jerry was packing supplies on horseback in the Big Horn Mountains working for the Bureau of Reclamation. It was on one of those trips that he met a couple of young gals on horseback. One was Mary Frances Helvey. He decided that day that he was going to marry her.
Jerry and Mary united in marriage on June 26, 1954. They first lived in Buffalo, then in Story, then in 1961, moved to their current place south of Sheridan. That was where they raised their two daughters, Janlyn and Jerilea. Jerry worked several ranch jobs, sold insurance for New York Life, and then worked 25 years as a surveyor for the Wyoming Highway Department.
Jerry loved horses and was horseback most of his life. In his earlier years, he was a bulldogger, a calf roper and a team roper. He continued to team rope for many years, winning a few buckles that he was very proud of. After settling down on their place south of Sheridan, Jerry began raising Quarter Horses. He had a passion for the foundation bred Quarter Horses.
Jerry spent his last six months at the Sheridan VA Medical Center. After a short time, he became quite content there, and some of the staff became like family to him.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Dorothy Nell, his brother, Jack, and his daughter, Janlyn Adler. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Mary Helvey Johns, his daughter Jerilea (Todd) Phillips, his son-in-law, Bill Adler and his four grandchildren, Kristen Adler (Dan Cummings), Jesse Adler, Fielding (Meagan) Phillips, and Clancy Phillips.
His funeral will be at Champion Funeral Home at 10:30 am on Friday, October 14th, followed by a luncheon at the Big Horn Woman’s Club. At 1:30 on Friday, there will be an interment in the Big Horn cemetery with military honors.
In lieu of flowers, you may donate to the charity of your choice, or we would suggest a donation to a medical fund for a friend, Ali MacCarty Gauger who had a bad horse accident. You may go to youcaring.com Ali and Chase Gauger Medical Relief Fund. Online condolences may be written at www.championfh.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Champion Funeral Home.
