Jerry Dan Dollar (84) was born September 27, 1938, in Madera, California, to the late Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Dan Dollar and Lula Wisener Dollar. He took his flight to Heaven on Wednesday, December 21, 2022. He was a lifelong resident of Madera, raised on a farm in the Alpha District, living his entire life within a half-mile from where he was born. He was the oldest of 3 children.  Jerry attended the old Alpha School and graduated from Madera High in 1956.  At age 7, Jerry cut fruit for the Chiarelli’s in the shed across the road from his home.

One of his earliest memories was the day WWII ended, and everyone in the fruit house banging trays and shouting for joy. He often said he was blessed to grow up in the happiest days of the 20th century.  The day after graduation, Jerry started work on a dairy, eventually becoming head herdsman and foreman of the Spinelli Bros. Dairy. He soon met the love of his life, Judith Alcorn, on a blind date at Madera Bowl. They were married three months later, in January 1958.

They began raising a family on “the little house on the dairy” with the arrival of 4 children, Daniel, Robin, Leslie, and Erik. He was a wonderful Dad and provided a happy home full of laughter and music. He enjoyed being a Dad and took even more delight when he became Papa to his grandchildren.

While raising his family on the dairy, Jerry developed a skill he learned in Coach Zimmerman’s wood shop class—furniture building and carving. His pieces always won blue ribbons at the Madera Fair. When the Spinelli’s retired and the dairy was sold, Jerry pursued woodcarving as a career. Carved birds were his specialty. He gained recognition beyond Madera with the help of Nancy Clute and Bob and Helen Mariscotti. His carvings were displayed in art galleries in Sedona, Arizona, Carmel, California, and Klamath Falls, Oregon, where many pieces were sold nationwide. Many Maderans purchased or commissioned Jerry to carve pieces for their homes.

Jerry loved people, enjoying countless visits from friends, customers, and even schoolchildren on field trips to his shop. More important than his carvings, though, were the relationships established through his artwork. His conversations always pointed to the Lord, who created the birds he carved and gave him the gift of recreating them in wood.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Marvin and Lula Dollar, beloved wife of 63 years Judith Dollar, brothers-in-law Bob McDowell and Darrell Alcorn, and son-in-law Roger Poythress. He is survived by his sister Margaret McDowell of Madera and brother David Dollar of Richland, Washington.  He is also survived by sons Dan Dollar(Kathy) and Erik Dollar, daughters Robin Poythress and Leslie (Jim) Pacini, ten grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and Harvey (Barb) Nickell, his lifelong friend and neighbor. He loved us all.

A viewing will be at Jay Chapel (1121 Robert’s Ave Madera, CA) on Wednesday, January 4, 2023, from 3-6 pm. Services will be at 11:00 am Thursday, January 5, at Grace Community Church, 17755 Road 26, Madera, CA, with graveside following.

Remembrances can be made to Grace Community Church.