Obituary: Gerald Dotson Riser
August 9, 1948 – September 12, 2013
Jerry passed away on September 12th peacefully in his Merced home.
Born in Oakland, he spent his younger years in Newman and Merced. Following a tour of duty in Vietnam with the U.S. Army, Jerry spent years in South Lake Tahoe in a variety of enterprises. He returned to Merced to care for his mother. During Jerry’s time in Tahoe he touched many different factions of the community. He was a prolific skier, softball player, coach and basketball referee. Anyone who was in South Lake Tahoe during the ‘70s and ‘80s knew of Jerry. He worked at the Bella Union Restaurant for years and then went on to manage the Royal Valhalla Motel. Jerry was truly a great person and friend to so many of us we will miss his laughter and big smile.
Gerald was preceded in death by his father, Creed Dotson Riser; mother, Imelda “Dode” Gunn; son Gerald (Jay Dallas) Riser; brother Martin Riser, and stepfather John Gunn. Survivors include his granddaughter Malea “Mimi” Boss of Auburn; sister Melanne Schlichting of Chico; brothers Dan Riser and Patrick Gunn of Merced and brother John Gunn of Castroville.
There will be a celebration of Jerry’s life in South Lake Tahoe on Sunday December 1st.
For more info on the celebration please contact EricSmith@theivydayspa.com
Support Local Journalism
Support Local Journalism
Readers around the Lake Tahoe Basin and beyond make the Tahoe Tribune's work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.
Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.
Your donation will help us continue to cover COVID-19 and our other vital local news.
