Gerald Grant Brower (Jerry to friends and family) was born July 4th, 1945 in Pocatello, Idaho to Grant Crapo and Doris Ellen (Bayly) Brower - their second of what would become six children. He loved playing basketball and as a teen worked with his father who was an architect. He graduated from Pocatello High School in 1963.

He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and served a mission in the Sao Paulo, Brazil mission at 18 years old. He loved the people he served and continued practicing his Portuguese up until his last moments. He served in many church callings throughout his life including High Councilor and several bishoprics. His favorite calling was as a member of the bishopric in a BYU singles ward.

After returning from Brazil, he was attending a Halloween institute dance at Idaho State University when he spotted Annette Kathleen LaMothe from across the room. He never left her side after that. They were married in the Idaho Falls Temple on August 23, 1967 and set up their first home in Pocatello.

Their first child, Gerald Christon Brower, was born March 19, 1969 but died shortly after due to a genetic heart defect. Because of the grief caused by the death of their first child, Jerry was excused from the draft for the Vietnam war by his doctor to stay home and care for his wife.

Shortly after, they celebrated the birth of their second child, Scott Andrew Brower on February 13, 1970 and quickly added their third child (and only daughter), Kelly Dae Brower on September 1, 1971.

In early 1971, they decided to move their young family to Salt Lake City so Jerry could attend the University of Utah where he graduated with a Bachelors of English in 1977. With the training he received working in his father's firm, he had continued working with architects after moving to Utah and decided on a whim to take the exam to become a licensed architect with zero studying and passed!

In 1977, the young Brower family moved to Orem, Utah where soon after Jerry opened his own architectural practice. That same year they added their fourth child, Richard (Rick) Grant Brower. Two years later, they welcomed the arrival of their fifth child, Devin "G" Brower.

Jerry's architectural firm ebbed and flowed in size throughout the years with most of his projects being for the Church. They ranged in size from small additions or seismic upgrades on existing buildings to new ward and stake buildings. Fulfilling a promise in his patriarchal blessing that he would work on temples, he designed an addition for the temple in Monticello, Utah. In all, he estimated he did over 150 projects for the church. His largest project was the Word Perfect campus in Orem. Scott, Kelly, and Devin would work at the firm with Jerry at one point or another where they all were eventually fired by him. Rick was smart enough to avoid those distinctions.

They continued living in Orem from 1977 where they raised their family and still live in the same house today. In the fall of 1991, Kelly gave birth to his first grandchild, Payden McBride. Jerry at first insisted he would be known as "Brother Brower" instead of "Grandpa" but that didn't last once Payden learned to talk. As Kelly was working at the time, Annette would take care of Payden so he would spend a lot of time at their house. As a result, Jerry and Payden formed a special bond. Jerry would take Payden with him to the office and on building inspections where Payden once exclaimed, "Grandpa! I didn't know you were a working man!"

Payden would be the first of what would become 13 grandchildren (by family: Payden, Courtney, and Holland; Morgan, Mitchell, Brinley, and Camryn; Audrey and Emrey and Mathias, Azlyn, Asher, and Breklyn) and five great-grandchildren (by family: Cruz, Alivia, Avery, Jade; and Baylor). Jerry loved all of them very much.

Throughout the years, Jerry would participate in a lot of hobbies. He had a business associate in the 1980s that got him interested in rifles so he learned how to reload his own rounds. That hobby was still of interest up until his last days, constantly mentioning to Devin that he needed to find a new location for his bench so he could keep busy reloading. Also in the 1980s, he became a river guide and ran portions of the Colorado, San Juan, and Salmon Rivers. For his last run on the Salmon River in 1998, he took his mother Doris and his Uncle Bud who enjoyed the trip despite their advanced age.

As an adult, Jerry enjoyed riding motorcycles. In the early 2000s, he found himself involved with the Temple Riders Association, a group of older couples that would tour the country on their motorcycles and visit temples. In 2004, Jerry traded up for a bright yellow Honda Goldwing so he could keep up with the group. He added every bell and whistle you could imagine from a CB radio and trailer up to heated socks. Together, he and Annette would travel the country from Canada to Mexico and California to Florida making such iconic rides as the Sawtooth mountains in Idaho to the Tail of the Dragon road that winds through Tennessee and North Carolina.

Family trips to Lake Powell and ski resorts were also among Jerry's favorite pastimes. He loved seeing his children and grandchildren having fun and passing on his love of these activities.

Throughout the years and especially later in later life, he spent a great deal of time working on family history. He served as the assistant director in his area genealogy center for a time teaching anyone that would listen how to do their own research. At one point, he and Annette travelled with his mother Doris and brother Dirk to Europe for a few weeks to see if they could track down any new ancestors. As they searched, they were told on many occasions, "have you checked with the Mormons? They have everything."

Jerry was never shy about sharing his love and devotion to Annette, his sweetheart, to anyone who would listen. During his final moments, he reminded family members how special their mom and grandma was and how much he loved her.

Jerry experienced declining health over the last few years and passed away surrounded by family on Friday, December 20, 2024 in American Fork, Utah.

Services to be held Friday, December 27, 2024.

Viewing: 9:00am to 9:45am

Funeral: 10:00am to 11:00am

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints chapel

1564 N. 1100 W.

Orem, Utah

Interment: Saturday December 28 2pm

Restlawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery

2864 S. 5th Avenue

Pocatello, Idaho