By Sara Beth Williams–
Dozens gathered Thursday at Rusch Park on what would have been Jerry Ray Still’s 84th birthday to celebrate and remember a man who was said to have been dubbed “Mr. Citrus Heights” long before the city’s official incorporation. Still passed away on Aug. 7, 2026. He was 83.
“We wouldn’t be here today if a flatbed truck hadn’t broken down right across the street from where we are now,” said Larry Fritz, longtime friend of Still. Fritz is also the president of the Citrus Heights Historical Society and the San Juan High School Alumni Association.
In 1946, the Still family and the McPherson family decided to move together from Southern California to the “promised land”: Oregon. On the way, the flatbed truck broke down on Highway 40, or the Lincoln Highway—known as Auburn Boulevard today—near today’s location of Rusch Park.
The family decided to settle there, across the street from what would become the Grand Oaks Shopping Center. Later the Stills bought the property. In 1949 they built their family home and moved to Sycamore Drive.
Fritz said he didn’t meet Still until later in life, but the two became fast friends. Still loved many things growing up, Fritz said, including playing football, the trade of plumbing, and later, watching football and old westerns. He also loved helping out anyone who needed help, and he loved his alma mater.
Still and his wife Helen were 1960 graduates of San Juan High, and as the historic school approached the century mark, Still was instrumental in organizing and launching the San Juan High School 100 years Legacy Exhibit, a museum of artifacts and multi-media displays from the high school’s 100 year history. Fritz called the museum a “pioneer”, as there are very few high schools in the country that have such a place for documenting the history of a specific school.
Another childhood schoolmate who spoke at the memorial service said Still was involved in cataloging all 1960 San Juan High School graduates, and attempting to track whether each person resided in or out of Citrus Heights.
Still also joined the San Juan Alumni Association and was a co-chair for the bi-annual all-class San Juan High alumni picnic. As well, he helped organize a bi-weekly all-class alumni lunch.
Growing up, Still and his brother Raymond both worked for his father’s plumbing business, called AR and Sons. At 19, Still decided to branch off into his own plumbing business and served the surrounding community for decades as a plumber. Even after retirement, he, together with Fritz, would complete plumbing jobs for nonprofits and others in need, Fritz said.
During the memorial, several others who grew up with Still spoke of childhood exploits including the attempt at making wine from grapes pilfered from a nearby vineyard, bike racing, playing football, leading a mass protest in the cafeteria until the cafeteria food staff agreed to improve the quality of their food, and more.
Along with his involvement in the San Juan Alumni Association and Historical Society, Still was a charter member of the Sunrise Lions club and received an award for “going above and beyond” in his community service to others.
“I had so much fun with him,” Fritz said, adding that he misses him. Fritz expressed his gratitude for the “outpouring of love and friendship” from all of those who stopped by to visit during the last several months of Still’s life.
Jerry Ray Still is survived by two children, Jerry Still (b. 1961) and Teri Still (b. 1963), two grandchildren, and five great grandchildren.
