Gerald (Jerry) Marshall Nay was born on February 22, 1935, in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. He was the second born of Marshall and Anna Nay. The master storyteller passed away peacefully with family in the home on Tuesday, October 6th, 2026.

Jerry grew up on a ranch in the Sidney area of Steamboat Springs, established by his father and grandfather around 1910. He attended school in Steamboat and graduated in 1953. On October 3, 1954, he married his lifelong love and best friend, Shirley Barber of Steamboat, and the couple settled on the ranch.

In 1955, Jerry was drafted into the Army, and the couple moved to Colorado Springs. He was stationed at Camp Hale, a high-altitude U.S. Army training facility near Leadville that was built in 1942 for the 10th Mountain Division. There, Jerry trained enlisted men in mountain climbing, Alpine and Nordic skiing, cold-weather survival, and various weapons. Drawing on his experience growing up in Steamboat, he also taught many fellow servicemen to ski.

After serving in the Army, Jerry attended Colorado State College in Fort Collins. A few years later, he and Shirley returned to Steamboat and began their lifelong ranching career. Together, they established a lasting ranching legacy in the Steamboat Springs and Hayden area while raising their three children: Sherry Lynn Nay of Davis, Oklahoma; Terry Ann (Tom) Jacobs of Grove, Oklahoma; and Larry Marshall (Sharon) Nay of Grove, Oklahoma.

Jerry, brother Rusty Nay, and brother-in-law Glen Barber were always custom haying for all the friends and family around the area, utilizing all the kids, which kept everyone very busy during the summer months. Jerry was also joint owner of a trucking firm “Moffat Trucking” for several years.

Jerry and Shirley were active members of the community. Jerry served on several local boards, including the cemetery, school, and water boards.

The family maintained a traditional cattle operation through a volatile period in Colorado agriculture, even as Steamboat Springs rapidly transformed from an isolated ranching town into a world-class mountain resort. In 1991, they sold the Sidney-area ranch but continued the ranching in Oklahoma. While ranching in Oklahoma, Jerry was drawn back to Colorado and lived in Crawford Colorado for several years.

Jerry is preceded in death by his parents Marshall and Anna Nay, brother Donald Nay, sister Mary (Richard) Peterson, beloved wife Shirley Nay, infant son, Gerald Eugene Nay, son Larry Nay, sisters-in-law Pat Barber and Mary Barber, brother-in-law Glen Barber, and many friends and family that were dear to him.

He was survived by his daughters, Sherry Nay, TA (Tom) Jacobs and daughter by marriage, Sharon (Larry) Nay; brother Rusty (Phyllis) Nay of Steamboat, CO; grandchildren, Bill (Shavonne) Jacobs of Claremore, OK, Joshua Jacobs of Pryor, OK, and Kara (Dakota) Thompson of Grove, OK; and 6 great grandchildren.

Celebration of Life services will be 11 a.m., Saturday, October 24, 2026, at Hayden Congregational Church, 202 E Jefferson Ave, Hayden, CO 81639. Honorary pallbearers are Richard Barber, Micheal Petterson, Leonard Karwacki, Dakota Thompson, Tom Jacobs, Bill Jacobs, and Joshua Jacobs.