Jerri Ashurst Obituary (1947 - 2025)

Geraldine (Jerri) Lou Burdick Ashurst was born July 22, 1947 in Compton, California to Lamar and Eula Mae Burdick. Jerri passed away on November 14, 2025 due to heart failure. Jerri Lou was the youngest of six kids. Each of the Burdick children had a wonderful gift of playing instruments and singing in a family band called "The Burdick Family Western Band". Jerri being the youngest would play a little on the mandolin and as her mom Eula Mae would say "Just get up there on stage and look cute". The family traveled to many places to perform in the 1950's, including talent shows in California, at Western actor Crash Corrigan's ranch, and many weekends at Knott's Berry Farm. In the late 1950's, the family band traveled around with family that owned rodeo stock and produced rodeos throughout Utah, Idaho, Arizona, and Wyoming. Each night after the rodeos, the family band would play music for dances until the early hours of the morning. A deep love of music keep the Burdick family close. Throughout their lives, when getting together, the instruments would come out and they would gather to sing the western music they grew up singing. Jerri also loved writing. Whether it was poetry, songwriting, short stories, or books. She had a great gift. In school, Jerri excelled in creative writing and wrote her first poetry in elementary school. It was hard for Jerri and her other siblings in their junior high and high school years because of moving often. The family moved between Utah and California several times to follow jobs. Jerri went to high school in California and joined the journalism team and also worked on the yearbook and the school newspaper. After high school, Jerri went to Snow College and received a two year degree in journalism and creative writing. From there, she went on to receive her bachelor's degree in English and History. She also received her teaching degree. Jerri taught in Panguitch, Utah for a time and also taught in schools around the Sevier County. In Jerri's free time, she still wrote poetry and songs and would perform music with her two older brothers who lived in the area. Jerri became a wife to John Stevens Ashurst and an instant mom to three little boys (Kevin, Brian, and Chad) the end of 1972. In August of 1973, they added a baby girl (Alisa) to the family. Jerri continued to work as a teacher for several more years. John and Jerri divorced and John raised the boys and Jerri raised Alisa with the help of her mom and dad. Jerri and Alisa moved to Rangley Colorado and stayed with Jerri's oldest sister, Jackie. Then, moved to Grand Junction, where Jerri got a job working for St. Mary's Hospital, writing stories about the hospital and taking pictures for publicity purposes. Jerri and Alisa ended up moving to West Valley, Utah after a time. Jerri started working for Utah Transit Authority and continued working there moving into the role of federal grant writing. She also continued her love of songwriting and joined the Utah Songwriter's Association. She became the president of the Association after a time and got to be involved in many songwriter seminars held in Salt Lake and in California. On the weekends, Jerri would go help the family that owned the rodeo company that as a kid, her with her siblings would travel with. While spending time with them, they would tell many stories about their lives in the rodeo business. Jerri started carrying a small recorder with her to capture all of their adventures owning the Bar T Down rodeo company. Jerri wrote their story "The Canyonlands Cowboy" D.A. Swanny and Verda Kerby. She also wrote some funny short stories about herself and wrote many patriotic poems. Before she passed away, Jerri was writing the story of her family "The Life and Adventures of the Burdick Family Western Band". Jerri loved music and writing. She also enjoyed camping, fishing, metal detecting, quilting, crocheting, painting ceramics, playing the guitar, watching Gunsmoke, and playing games with Alisa and Alisa's family. Geraldine (Jerri) is survived by her step-sons (Whom she always loved as her own) Kevin (Vonda), Brian (Kim), Chad, and her daughter Alisa (Dan), along with many grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, and one sister-in-law Marla Burdick. Because Jerri wished to be cremated and to not have any formal funeral or a celebration of life, we will be planning a scattering of her ashes in a special area some time in the future. Jerri's favorite flower was the Daisy. We ask that in the spring, please plant daisies in honor of her.