Lester Jerry Platt

Lester Jerry Platt passed away June 26th 2012 after a very short battle with cancer. Unfortunately the cancer won, but he was ready to go and did so holding the hand of his daughter who loved him so very very much. He was a kind and gentle man and there wasn’t anyone who ever met him, who didn’t like him. He was always interested in what someone had to say, and he appreciated a good home cooked meal, a beautiful sky full of clouds and sharing a shot of tequila with one of the many friends he had. He grew the best tomatoes and green beans in the world, invented the word “do-flop-er” and will never be forgotten by anyone who ever was lucky enough to know him. He was an avid dirt bike rider and was happiest when riding the deserts of Mojave and Baja California, which he did for over 60 years. He rode in the first two Baja 1000’s with Vern Hancock and to many to count hare & hounds, enduro’s, TT’s and countless weekends rides. He lived most of his life in Costa Mesa California married to Patsy Irene Wyrick who passed away in 2000. At that time he moved to Gardnerville Nevada to be near Debby and his grandsons. He is survived by his daughter Debby Platt of Gardnerville Nevada, grandson’s Kekila Lester Fonoti Keuma and Keenan Copp, granddaughter Leilani Keuma, family members Victor and BJ Wilson of Gardnerville Nevada, and his dear riding buddy, Peter Perrin of Torrance California.
Jerry Platt was born on the same farm his grandparents Charles and Lillian Platt settled in the 1880’s in the town of Paularino, or modern Costa Mesa, California. His father, Lester, loved animals, had a natural gift for farming and in 1913, at 23, purchased the farm from his father. When Jerry was born December 27, 1926 to proud parents Lester and Virgie Bell Armstrong, the 50 acre farm at the NW corner of Babb and Paularino streets, had a mixed fruit orchard, a successful dairy business consisting of 140 cows, three barns and the farm grew alfalfa. Lester lost the farm in the Great Depression in 1931, but stayed on, working as a tenant farmer while raising Jerry and his two now deceased older sisters, Jeannette Maxwell and Joyce Cool. Fordhook Lima beans, also a primary crop at the Platt farm, was a food staple during the depression and there was nothing he enjoyed more than a pot of lima’s bubbling away on the stove. Just water, butter, salt and lima beans – no onion or ham to ruin them!
There will be no service at his request, but there will be a celebration of life for him at Mike’s Sky Rancho in Baja California over Thanksgiving.