Jerald 'Jerry' Lee Kinkade

Jerald “Jerry” Lee Kinkade, 80 passed away peacefully at home in Arizona on April 5, 2018. Jerald was born in Mabton, Wash. in 1938 to Harley and Helen Kinkade. His family moved several times throughout his childhood, i.e. Kettle Falls, Wash., La Grande, Ore. and Wilsall, Mont., but they always seemed to come back to the Yakima Valley where Jerald graduated from Mabton High School in 1956. Jerald was a good student and athlete. He enjoyed playing basketball and also played football and boxed.

In 1958 Jerald married Barbara Schafer of Wapato, Wash. and they began their life together in Prosser, Wash. In 1962 they moved to Warden, Wash. where he had an opportunity to run the trucking division of Bi-County Farms for his uncle in-law Alex Lysiak, which later became Bi-County Trucking. He ran his company successfully for many years and raised four children in Warden, Wash.

Jerald felt it was important to be civically engaged in one’s community and to promote worthy causes. He did so by volunteering for organizations throughout his time in the Columbia Basin. He was an active member of the Moses Lake Elks Lodge and served as a Trustee for many years. He was also a member/volunteer for the Columbia Basin Rodeo Association. He was interested in water issues such as the East High Canal and was a part of the Columbia Basin Project and attended many meetings in its regard. He most recently served as a City Councilman for his hometown of Quartzsite, Ariz. since 2016.

In 2001 Jerald married Vera Sterback. They lived in northern California before relocating to Quartzsite, Ariz. in 2003 where they enjoyed dancing and watching sunsets over the desert southwest.

Jerald was preceded in death by his parents Harley and Helen Kinkade, his sister Joyce McBride and his son Jerry Kinkade.

He is survived by his wife Vera Kinkade, his sister Velva Wright and his daughters Joan Bertram, Carolyn Kinkade and Cheryl Kinkade-Pettibone.