Gerald Morgan Becker

Gerald Morgan Becker, "Jerry", passed away peacefully, with his family at his side, on June 20th, 2024 at age 95, after a brief and courageous battle with cancer.

Jerry was born to his loving parents, Nicholas and Bernice (Geisert) Becker on December 17, 1928, in Tacoma Washington. Jerry grew up in Tacoma and attended Puyallup High School. He grew up with a passion for Jazz and taught himself to play the drums, leading to his involvement in various bands and traveling performances. After serving in the military and attending beauty school, he became a hairdresser where he met and later married Beatrice “Bea” (McGlothlen) Becker on December 6, 1958.

Together they opened their own beauty salon in downtown Seattle where they worked and lived before moving back to Tacoma to start a family.

Jerry was always interested in Art, winning his first award in elementary school. In 1967, Jerry managed an Art store in Lakewood where he began his career as an Artist, painting in the back of the store during his free time. He started painting in oils and acrylics and moved on to watercolors which was his true passion. In the summer of 1972, Jerry moved his family to sunny Tucson, Arizona, where he made his new home. He continued to make his living, doing what he loved to do, painting watercolors. He won over 50 awards in juried shows having had 67 one man shows and his paintings have been featured in many galleries and museums across the United States, including the Frye Art Museum in Seattle. He was the oldest member of Southern Arizona Art Guild and held memberships with Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild, Western Federation of Watercolor Societies and The Whiskey Painters of America. He taught watercolor workshops for many years and was a dedicated family man, instilling honesty, integrity, reliability and punctuality in his children and grandchildren. He lived a fulfilling life and left this world with a heart full of love and a peaceful mind.

Jerry is survived by his wife Bea Becker, daughters Cheryle June (Alan) and Patti Becker (Jordan) and son, Timothy Becker, grandchildren Bradley Jones (Karla), Matthew Alimena (Myra), Kristin Oberdries (Mark), Michael Gonzales, Daniel Gonzales, Nicholas Alimena (Amanda), 6 great grandchildren and extended family.

Please join us for a memorial/celebration of life, Saturday, July 20, 2024 from 11:00a.m. to 12:00p.m. at Avenidas Cremation & Burial, 1376 West St. Mary’s Road, Tucson, Arizona 85745.