Jerry Joe Bennett

August 22, 1942 ~ November 24, 2018
Jerry Joe Bennett was born Aug. 22, 1942 and passed away peacefully at his home in Blanding on Nov. 24, 2018.  
He was born in Frankfort, KS to Mary Ellen McLeod and Leonard George Bennett and was the youngest of seven children. He moved to Monticello with his parents in 1957 and graduated from Monticello High School in 1960. 
Jerry worked various jobs but will be mostly remembered for managing the Husky service station owned by Keith and Donna Redd and driving a fuel truck for Abajo Petroleum.
Most recently he was a fuel delivery driver for BCL Carl Hunt in Blanding.  
Jerry was loved by everyone he met, especially his customers. He enjoyed conversations with strangers and called all “his customers” friends.
In 1969 he married Punki Torres and later divorced. To this union were born his children Meri (PJ) Allan and Kristopher William.  
In 1994 he married Saundra Bailey Johnson and with that marriage he gained the additional love of her children Troy, Glenna, Tiffanie, Amanda, and Cassidy.  
As his children, we had the pleasure of seeing our parents sealed for time and all eternity on October 13, 2018 and consider this one of our greatest blessings.  
He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where he served in various callings.
He enjoyed the calling of home teacher the very best. He was the best example of home teaching and loved serving the widows of his ward.
He also served as the Oakcrest neighborhood tooth fairy. The kids would come over just to have Jerry stick his big hands in their mouths and yank their loose teeth out, and in return he would give them money. These are the memories that we will take with us.
He is survived by his wife, Saundra; children PJ (Richie) Maughan of Springville, UT, Kristopher (Christina) Bennett of Las Vegas, NV; stepchildren Troy Johnson of Moab, Glenna (Johnny) Slavens of Allen, TX, Tiffanie (Daylen) Holt, Amanda (Danny) Palmer, and Cassidy (Damon) Black, all of Blanding; 17 grandchildren; and two beautiful great-grandchildren that fondly referred to him as Grandpa J.  
He is also survived by his sisters Joan McMahon of Paola, KS and Lucille Isaman of Grand Junction, CO and brothers Richard (Laveta) Bennett of Paola, KS and Tom Bennett of Gallup, NM.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Marion and Betty, and brothers-in-law Roy Isaman and Red McMahon.
Our father, husband, and grandfather will always be known as “our gentle giant.”  He will be remembered for the love he had for not only his family, but for the community that surrounded him.