Gerald Lee Chidgey

He died peacefully in his sleep at home on December 13th, 2024 at the age of 88.

He is survived by his wife Kathryn, married 63 years, his son Lee (wife Pamela), grandchildren Truman, Ever, Dalton and Rhett, and brother Ronnie.

Jerry was an entrepreneur from a young age, raising chickens with his mom Ruby and attempting to buy Ono Island for a Nutria farm at the age of 13. Later he became involved with the Baptist Ministry and helped young people. He worked on tow boats pushing barges through the Intercostal Waterway to pay his way through college.

He attended Transylvania University in Kentucky where he learned “Coolness, System and Wisdom”.

He graduated with a Bachelors Degree from Louisiana State University where he met the love of his life Katie and learned that “Everything’s made for Love”. Jerry and Katie stood up at the wedding of Don and Minnie and they remain in touch today. Together, Katie and Jerry opened a coffee shop named the Amber Bottle to great success and later Jerry’s Lounge where he learned “Don’t take any wooden nickels”. There they met lifelong friends John, Sam, and Phil.

His career with Liberty Mutual Insurance led him to California in 1972 where he would settle in Thousand Oaks and make many friends like the Taylors, Clarks, O’Friel’s and many others with countless memories. He became know, even in song by his son Matt, as the Garage Sale Guru and competed with his ache-nemesis Bob for early morning deals. Along the way he made many real estate deals building and renovating houses and apartments in TO, Malibu Lake, Newbury Park, Laughlin, and Alabama.

He enjoyed traveling to South Alabama and reuniting with kinfolk at the beach.

He inherited an affection for wagering from his mother Ruby and loved blackjack and betting on football.

Through his life he has helped and mentored many and always entertained with humor and wit including the infamous Chidgey after Turkey Gathering.

With Lee’s marriage to Pamela came grandchildren Dalton and Rhett whom Jerry bonded with over music and nostalgia. Then came the grandkid twins, Ever and Truman whom he loved to spoil with gifts, many from garage sales. They were the light of his life and he enjoyed spending time and watching them grow.

Jerry had many great travels across America, Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe and Disneyland but he loved his patio most.

He may be gone but never forgotten.

RIP Jerry Lee

A visitation for Gerald will be held Saturday, December 28, 2024 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks-Griffin Memorial Park, Mortuary & Crematory, 5600 Lindero Canyon Road, Westlake Village, CA 91362, followed by a funeral service from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM.