Gerald E. "Yogi" Provost

Gerald E. “Yogi” Provost, age 71, of Grants Pass, died Saturday, October 24, 2009 at his home.

A viewing will be from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday, October 30, 2009 at Hull & Hull Funeral Directors.

A funeral service will be at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, October 31, 2009 at Bethany Presbyterian Church with The Reverend Kay Cushman officiating. Private interment will be at Eagle Point National Cemetery. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.

Remembrances may be made to Lovejoy Hospice, 939 SE 8th Street, Grants Pass, Oregon 97526.

He was born February 3, 1938 in Tillamook, Oregon to Eugene G. Provost & Dorothy E. Smith Provost. In 1954 he moved from Tillamook to Grants Pass. At a young age he started playing the trumpet and by the age of 13 was playing professionally. In March 1956 he toured as a trumpet player with the Young Oregonians. In 1956 he graduated from Grants Pass High School and that same year enlisted in the United States Air Force and served his country until his honorable discharge in 1960. On September 27, 1958 at Newman United Methodist in Grants Pass he married Joanne Heap. From 1961 to 1964 he worked as department manager at Montgomery Wards. In 1965 he started a career in the logging industry when he began hauling logs for Wayne Brown in the Glendale area until 1972; from 1972 to 1981 he owned and operated JP Trucking Company in Molalla; from 1981 to 2005 he hauled logs and heavy equipment for RB Slagle and Spalding & Son both in Grants Pass; and most recently from 2005 to 2007 he drove dump truck for Timber Mountain Construction.

His memberships included B.P.O. Elks #1854 since 1961; Rogue Valley Snowmobilers; Oregon Log Truckers Association; and American Whitewater Jet Boaters Association.

His many hobbies included flying as an airplane pilot; snowmobiling; fishing; hunting; boat racing and watching his sons’ race where he was crew chief for Provost racing team; and assisting his brother-in-law, Carl Heap and son, Darren Provost at the Bonneville Salt Flats.

In addition to his wife, Joanne Heap Provost; he is survived by two sons, Darren Provost and David Provost; and two grandsons, Cory Provost and Brett Provost all of Grants Pass.