Jerold Maag

Jerold "Jerry" Maag, 87, passed away June 24, 2016, in Phoenix, Ariz. He was born Nov. 26, 1929, in Samaria, Idaho, to Joseph and Emma (White) Maag.

Raised in Malad, Arbon Valley and American Falls, Idaho, he graduated from American Falls High School in 1948. He was on the all-star basketball team, which won the state title while he was a junior and senior. His school honored the team again in 2010.

Jerry served in the Korean War from 1950 to 1953. He was a combat soldier. Before shipping out, he married his life-long sweetheart, Leora Emery Fox, in 1951.

He was a ranch hand before being drafted, and he left his cattle on the Pashemori of the Salmon River. On his return to Idaho, Leora and Jerry went into the cattle business on the East Fork of the Salmon River in a remote ranch on Herd Creek. He loved baby calves and a spunky horse.

Their first child, Cheryl, was born while living on Herd Creek. They had to ford the river then Herd Creek nine times to go to town. Jerry didn't want to raise his family in that remote place, so they moved to Salmon, Idaho. Their sons, Jerry Less and Daryl Joe, were born there. Their daughter, Della Rose, was born later in American Falls.

Jerry spent a large portion of his working years running large tracts of farmland on the Flying H near Mountain Home and Glenns Ferry. He loved to watch the crops grow.

Billy Rio and Saylor Creek projects were his proving grounds for running large water pumps out of the Snake River and onto the high desert.

He ended his career working those big pumps in the mines. He worked at Clayton Silver until Phelps Dodge bought them out and transferred him to Bagdad, Ariz. He worked at Bagdad for the Cyprus Company for more than 20 years at various jobs -- mostly driving trucks and drilling.

Jerry and Leora bought a home of Bagdad and retired there. They resided there until their health failed and then moved to Prescott, Ariz. About three years ago, they moved to Phoenix to be near their daughter, Della.

Jerry is survived by his wife of 65 years, Leora; his sons, Jerry Lee (Susie) Maag of Mountain Home, and Daryl (Evon) Maag of Spokane, Wash.; his daughters Cheryl (Bruce) Harris of Elko, Nev., and Della (Inez C.) Maag of Maricopa, Ariz.; his brother, Niel (Betty) Maag of Meridian, Idaho; his sister, Martha Maag of Prescott, Ariz.; and his grandchildren, Travis, Amy, Becky, Megan, Nicholas; and nine great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Roy Maag; and a brother, Lynn, who died in his childhood.