Jerald Reid Syme

Obituary Jerald Reid Syme passed away in Monterey on August 5, 2018 after a brief illness. He was born in Boise, Idaho on February 19, 1948 to Marvin and Rosalie Syme, and moved with his mother to California when he was still a toddler. Later on, as his stepfather served in the U.S. Navy Seabees during the Korea War, Jerry lived on various naval bases including Adak in the Aleutian Islands and spent first grade in Virginia Beach, Virginia. After the war, the family settled in Merced, California and Jerald attended schools there through high school. ?Jerald started hunting and fishing at an early age, played Little League baseball, became very active in the Boy Scouts of America, was president of the Y-O-S-E-M-I-T-E Chapter of the Order of the Arrow and became Eagle Scout when he was 17. In his early teens he became interested in tennis and became proficient and played varsity all four years at Merced High School and continued playing for the rest of his life and was also into photography and bird watching. After high school he served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Then, continuing his education, Jerald received his Batchelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of California at Davis and his Master's degree at California State University of Long Beach. He lived in Honolulu HI for 13 years and had his own jewelry business. After returning to the mainland in 1996, he worked for several different jewelers on the Peninsula until his recent retirement. Jerald was a member of the National Tennis Association, California Aggi Alumni Association, and American Legion Post#41 of Monterey. Jerald is survived by his mother, Rosalie Bettencourt, of Monterey, uncle and aunt, Otto and Margaret Svancara of San Jose, uncle Victor Svancara of Buhl, Idaho and many cousins in Idaho, Oregon and Washington. A private inurnment will take place at the California Central Coast Veterans Cemetery is Seaside, CA. There will be a private gathering of friends at a later date. Condolences may be written to the family at www.bermudezfamilyfunerals.com To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jerald Reid Syme, please visit our floral store. Funeral Service Prayer Service Committal Service