Gerald “Jerry” Dee Elwell, age 79, of Salt Lake City, Utah, died on August 11, 2025 due to complications following a recent surgery. 

Jerry was born on May 2, 1946 in Huntington Park, California to Henry Opul and Opal Faye Elwell. He grew up in Los Angeles, California and moved to Ontario where he began his schooling. Much of his childhood revolved around a round ball that he found in his brother’s toy box and a life-long journey with the game of golf began. WIth an old putter from his garage, he went out on the front lawn and when it got dark, he used the light on the porch to see, hitting the ball back and forth. Despite his dad calling the sport “cow pasture pool,” Jerry waited in the parking lot at Lomitas Golf Course until it opened so he could play his first round of golf – where he made a par that day — and he was hooked. He became an all-state golfer at Chaffey High School while also achieving the same honors in tennis.

He then went on to serve a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to London, England. It was there that he had an encounter with Billy Casper, a world-famous golfer, which changed the course of his life. Following his mission, he came to work for Casper and it was there that he met a black-haired girl named Anne Moffett from Belfast, Northern Ireland, whom the Casper family had brought to America as a nanny for their children. Billy’s wife Shirley worked her matchmaking skills and Jerry married Anne – the love of his life – in the Los Angeles Temple for time and all eternity on June 21, 1969.

Jerry played on the Brigham Young University golf team with Johnny Miller and then moved on to play for San Diego State University. He earned a Masters of Business Administration and a Ph.D. in Physical Education from SDSU.

He played on the PGA tour early in his career and set 14 course records from 1954-1970. He worked as a teaching professional in Chula Vista, California; Niles, Michigan; Tucson, Arizona; Roswell, New Mexico; Duarte, California; Chino, California; Rialto, California; San Antonio, Texas; Radium Hot Springs, British Columbia, Canada; Tucson, Arizona; Potomac, Maryland; Simi Valley, California; Woodland Hills, California; Palm Desert, California; and Lincoln County, Maine.

He loved to teach the game of golf, whether it was to Olympic speed skater Apollo Anton Ohno, NBA coach Larry Brown, comedian Bob Hope, former U. S. President Gerald Ford, major league baseball player Jose Canseco or legendary professionals Billy Casper, Johnny Miller, Gary Player, Ernie Els, Chi Chi Rodriguez, Tommy Bolt, Bill Rogers, John Daly, Nancy Lopez and Stephen Ames.

Jerry served on national PGA committees, section board of directors and created two PGA section teaching committees. He was named the Middle Atlantic PGA Section Teacher of the Year in 1998, the Southern California PGA Teacher of the Year six years later and was a five-time nominee for National Teacher of the Year. He was also the author of “The Lesson Tee,” an instructional CD, several instructional books and was published in numerous PGA journals and magazines.

While golf was a huge part of his life, the most important to Jerry was his knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ and his testimony that families are eternal. He raised his children to also have a deep love of the scriptures as he gathered everyone around daily to study them and kneel in family prayer, followed by a regular “Rah, rah, rah, go team go!” cheer. He led them in weekly family councils – putting everyone into committees – and spearheaded calendaring sessions which helped to keep a large family organized. He taught his children how to write resumes, but more importantly, to work hard to build those resumes and they learned how to “Dress for Success” from the interview to the workplace. 

Dad was more than just a father to his family. He was their coach – in golf, soccer, or basketball, their biggest cheerleader, their chauffeur (sitting in his beanie and winter coat while they attended early morning seminary classes), and their hero. They were so proud of his accomplishments and how hard he worked to support their family, even amidst times of financial struggle.

Jerry struggled with some health challenges the past few years and needed back surgery last summer. Despite a very painful recovery he was blessed with sacred experiences to deal with his challenges and often talked of how the Savior, Jesus Christ, had become his best friend.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his youngest son, Nigel Patrick, who died shortly after birth in 1983.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Anne Moffett Elwell; brother, Teddie Lee (Laurie) Elwell; eight of his nine children: Shannon (Conrad) Heward, William (Shannon) Elwell, Catherine (Mike) Garrett, Sarah (Tyler) Wright DeLange, Heather (Scott) Arnett, Siobhan (Tom) Gray, Christopher (Sarah) Elwell and Jon (and fiancé Gi Dancini) Elwell; 31 grandchildren – Jordan Heward; Sheilla (Jacob) Perez, Anna (Jesse) Vaughn, Samantha Elwell and Amelia Elwell; Madison (Richard) Harward, Brandon Garrett and Elder Austin Garrett (currently serving in the Mexico City West Mission); Alexa DeLange, Drew DeLange, Cade DeLange and Aria DeLange; Bailey (and fiancé Hunter Sims) Arnett, Kylie (Ethan) Miles, Isabelle Arnett, Gavin Arnett, Ava Arnett and Harrison Arnett; Lexi Gray, Skye Gray, T Gray, Hunter Gray, Avery Gray and Tinley Gray; Elder Beckham Elwell (currently serving in the Quito Ecuador Mission), McKenna Elwell, Paisley Elwell, Henley Elwell, Kingston Elwell and Hudson Elwell; and Margot Elwell (due January 2026); and 3 great grandchildren – Rowan Elwell, Maia Harward and Kota Miles, and Camilla Perez (due January 2026).

A private graveside service for family was held Friday, August 15, 2025.

In lieu of flowers for this occasion, Jerry would prefer that any donations be given towards a missionary account established for his grandchildren and great grandchildren who serve missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

From his children: “You’ve finished your round and gone on ahead to the ‘clubhouse’ in heaven. Dad, we hope that the way we all play our own rounds will make you proud. Cheerio until we meet again!”

Arrangements in care of Dalton-Hoopes Funeral Home, Grantsville, Utah DaltonHoopes.com 435-884-3031