ST. TAMMANY PARISH, LA. Obituary for: FLEMING, JERRY A. Submitted by: Louis Lavedan. Source: Honaker Funeral Home, Sdlidell, La. Died: Monday, February 27, 2017 ======================================================================= Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgenweb.org/volunteers/copyright.shtml ======================================================================= FLEMING, JERRY A. December 4, 1935 - February 27, 2017 ========== A photo is available for this file. Please go to http://usgwarchives.net/la/sttammany/obits/dateobits/2017/st1702.htm and click to view list of photos. ========== Jerry A. Fleming, age 81, died peacefully in his sleep on February 27, 2017. Jerry was born in Ellisforde, WA on December 4, 1935 to Bernice Patterson Fleming and Francis W. "Bud" Fleming. He attended school in Oroville, WA graduating with many friends for life. He started working at a very young age, standing on a box to wash dishes at "Mom's Diner." He always had a job of some sort and always had a goal: a car, bike, or some other dream. Jerry served in the U.S. Army from 1956 until 1958 and made many lifetime friends, and even served with Elvis Presley. After leaving the Army, he opened and ran Flub's Museum, enjoying his lifetime love of antiques. He then owned and operated the U & I Tavern in Oroville, WA for several years. He designed and made a prototype of his "Litter Gulper," a van he converted into an innovative trash collection vehicle that could be operated by one person from inside the van. He had it patented and it was eventually sold to American Can Company where he worked on the east coast as a consultant for several years. The highlight of that time was driving the Litter Gulper around the Indy 500 track and being awarded a jacket to commemorate the event. Jerry also learned to fly airplanes and over the years owned over ten different planes (even amphibious ones) which he used to take exciting trips all over the country and into remote areas of Alaska. His love for flying never stopped and he subscribed to flying magazines reading them cover to cover. He moved to Wenatchee, WA and started and ran Wenatchee Dyno, a diagnostic auto tune up business until his retirement. After retirement, he bought and developed a beautiful resort on Lake Chelan in Washington state building condos, a mobile home park, a club house, and docks with boat moorage. The Cove development was the only year-round deep water moorage on Lake Chelan and very desirable. He also designed and patented an innovative apple picking bag which he manufactured and sold. During his "slow" times he bought and sold cars, RVs, boats, and planes. He has owned a DeLorean, several Rolls Royces, and countless classic automobiles. In 2003 Jerry and his wife Sandra moved to Slidell, LA just in time to "enjoy" hurricane Katrina in which they lost just about everything. Following that, they purchased an RV and settled in Yuma, AZ for several years. He loved going out in the desert with a group of Jeep owners, exploring the wild, uninhabited country. In 2009, Jerry and Sandra moved back to Slidell, LA. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Leon, and daughter Carol West Applebury. Jerry is survived by his wife Sandra; his daughter Tracy Watkins and husband Fred, grandsons Josh and Christopher of WA; son Richard West and wife Deanna, granddaughter Kirsten of WA; daughter Christy West and husband Helio Zavalza of LA; daughter Jessica Odom and husband Joshua, three grandsons Robert, George, and David, of LA; granddaughter Caiti Applebury; many great-grandchildren, and too many friends to count. Jerry had an amazing zest for life and was always up for an adventure! He truly lived his life to the fullest. Services will be held in Oroville, WA in the summer. U.S. Army ===================