Karla Bufka

A photo of the grave of my brother, Jerry Michael Trill. He was born on Aug. 31 1956 in Portland, Oregon and died May 10 2000 from congestive heart failure while residing in Salem, Oregon. He was the youngest of five children. He has an older sister and three older brothers. Jerry was preceded in death by his father Jerry Hamilton Trill and a brother, Eugene Lee Kerns, who, was killed in an ultra lighting accident. He grew up in N.E. Portland but attended the last two years of school in Mountain View, Calif. He graduated from Mountain view High school.He was a very gifted, bass guitar player and played with a band for several years.His mom recognised his musical talent and supported him in his musical endeavors. He once played back up for Chubby Checker. He was a good hearted person who required very little from life. He loved his partner of 9 years, Mary and said they were, "soul mates". He cared for his cats and took very good care of them. His outside interest was music, he particulartly liked the Beatles and collected anything to do with them. He had a sincere love of all types of music. One winter when it was particularly cold, he came running to me and said, Wez, "there's an ikel on the window", I went to check to see what he was talking about and there, hanging on the outside of the window, was a very long iceicle. This was his "ikel". It makes me feel close to him when I remember that funny little story. He must have been about four or five then. Jerry Michael would also keep a towel and clothespin under various pieces of furniture and when no one was looking he would put on his towel cape and become superman and of course none of us was supposed to know that it was our own little brother. Jerry Michael and I were nine years apart in age, so, when mom brought him home from the hospital, he was a real live doll. I got to help diaper him and feed and have tea parties with him as he grew older. At tea party time he became Gretchen and I dressed him in one of my skirts and and put a scarf around his head. He didn't mind. He was my little brother and I will always love and miss him more than words can say. Jerry was the most loving and thoughtful brother I have and I miss him dearly.

Louise Brawdy