Lloyd M. Gerber 1927 ~ 2011
Lloyd M. Gerber, Husband, Father, Uncle, Grandfather, Great-Grand-father, and friend to many, passed from this life on July 16, 2011.Lloyd and his twin brother Floyd were born on April 14, 1927 in Mapleton, Utah. A year later, his parents, Irvin and Aurilla, took the twins, along with their three older brothers and two sisters, over the mountain to their new home in Wellington, Utah. The hardship and challenges of living in depression era Wellington were tempered by a strong faith and a loving family and worked together to forge a personality that earned him success and admiration all his life. In 1947 Lloyd left to serve an LDS mission in Louisiana. He returned and entered Brigham Young University where he met and fell hard for Betty McKinney. Lloyd and Betty sealed their loving partnership in the Manti LDS Temple in 1951. While attending BYU, Lloyd continued to spend summers working on the family's remote cattle ranch along the Green River in eastern Utah. His experiences there helped him complete the foundation upon which he built the remainder of his life. After BYU, Lloyd moved to Alexandria, Virginia and enrolled in George Washington University Law School, graduating in 1957. He moved his young family to Farmington, NM where he practiced law for two years before returning to Utah. He worked for several companies, and continued to practice law but he could never cure himself of what he called "Cattle Fever", so in 1963 he and two partners bought a ranch along the Strawberry River in Duchesne County, Utah and he was, once again, connected to the cowboy life he so loved. In 1969, Lloyd returned to Virginia, where he went to work as General Manager for Robinson Terminal Warehouse, Corporation. The next 16 years were the most successful in his business life. He was made CEO and President of the company in 1980 where he remained until moving to Boise, Idaho in 1985. Lloyd carried his extraordinary management skills into retirement, embark-ing upon a very successful career buying and selling real estate, an endeavor he continued to engage in until his death. No matter where Lloyd's business life took him, he never lost his love of ranching and cattle. He used poetry and story-telling to share his experiences with others, publishing several books and performing his poetry at public events throughout the west. A featured appearance at the Elko, Nevada Cowboy Poetry gathering led to an appearance on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson where he regaled the nation with his clever wording, irresistible charm, and fascinating experiences. Lloyd is survived by an adoring family including three sons, Steven, Mark, and Nathan; five daughters, Kathy, Julie, Lisa, Susan, and Lori; 37 grandchildren, 15 great-grand-children; and his sister Elma. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Clinton, Keith, Grant, Floyd, and Austin; sister Mable, and his loving wife Betty. A viewing will be held Tuesday, July 19, 2011 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m., with Funeral Services at 2:00 p.m. at the LDS Church, Eagle Idaho Stake Center, 2090 N. Eagle Rd, Eagle. Burial will follow at Dry Creek Cemetery, Boise. Services are under the direction of Bowman Funeral, Garden City.